Dave Mooney
Encyclopedia
Dave Mooney is an Irish
footballer, currently playing for Leyton Orient
.
, his first senior club, in 2000 and scored in every round when Rovers' won the U17 All Ireland title against Kingdom Boys in 2002. He made his first team debut coming on as a sub against Longford Town
on 6 April 2004. His first goal came on 24 June 2004 against the doomed Dublin City
. In his fifteen months in the first team he scored nine goals in 40 total appearances.
Due to Rovers' financial position at the time players had to be sold on and Mooney moved to Longford. His last game in the Hoops was against Cork City on 22 July 2005.
. However despite Mooney's heroics throughout the season Longford Town were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division, albeit with a six point deduction, and lost the FAI Cup
final to Cork City.
His excellent form throughout the season did not go un-noticed and he was nominated for the PFAI Player of the Year and won the FAI Player of the Year http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ierpoy.html as well as the Player of the Month award for August 2007.
season it was obvious that he would be playing somewhere else than First Division football in Flancare Park
. He had been linked with a move to the Football League next season with Football League Championship
sides Crystal Palace
and Colchester United
reportedly interested in signing the striker. Representatives from Premier League side Fulham were said to have been in attendance at the FAI Cup final, and Leeds United
manager Dennis Wise
had also watched Mooney in action.
However Mooney promised to follow his manager Alan Mathews
down south if he was to stay in Ireland. He had been offered a contract by English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers
, but instead signed a longer three-year contract with perennial title challengers Cork City in January 2008 thus ending two and a half years in the midlands.
Mooney was a revelation in his only season with Cork City, racing to the top of the goalscoring charts again. He was widely regarded as one of the best players in the league. A particularly impressive showing against Derry City
at The Brandywell saw Mooney score twice in a minute to bring the game (which Derry had dominated) level at 2–2, and come close to completing his hat-trick just moments later with a speculative 30-yard effort that came back off an upright (a spectacular goal from Denis Behan
eventually gave Cork all three points). Before European football came to Turner's Cross
midway through the season, Mooney had scored 18 goals in total, and broken his team mate Behan's record for a scoring run by netting 11 goals in six matches. He then scored on his European debut, in a 2–2 UEFA Cup
draw with Finnish side FC Haka
http://www.corkcityfc.ie/main.php.
's the season before. Already top of the goalscoring charts, Mooney had attracted renewed interest from England
. One of the clubs was Reading
. On 20 August, he signed for them for a fee believed to be in the region of €260,000. Mooney was given squad number 12.
Mooney made his Reading debut in the League Cup
, coming on as a substitute against Luton Town
(according to the Reading official website he had also lined up alongside Reading teammate Noel Hunt
for Shamrock Rovers, which is untrue as Hunt had left the club 15 months prior to Mooney's debut). He then made an extra time appearance in a League Cup penalty shootout defeat against Stoke City. On 2 June 2011, Mooney was released after his contract expired.
midway through the 2008–09
season, but in March 2009, he moved on a month's loan to Championship strugglers Norwich City
. He scored twice in his first three appearances for the Canaries, including the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City
, and the only goal of the game against fellow relegation candidates Plymouth Argyle
. As a result, Mooney's loan spell at Carrow Road was extended until the end of the season. Although he would eventually total three goals in nine league games for the club, his contribution would not be enough to prevent Norwich from being relegated.
Due to the different time-frame of the League of Ireland
season, the end of the 2008–09 campaign brought Mooney his first break from playing and training since March 2008.
However, on 16 October it was announced that Mooney would be joining League One side Charlton Athletic on an emergency loan until 1 December. He made his first team debut the next day, coming on as a late substitute in Charlton's
2–1 victory against Huddersfield
at The Valley. After two more appearances as a substitute, Mooney was handed his first league start for the club against MK Dons
at The Valley on 14 November, and scored an equalising goal in the 13th minute to set the Addicks on their way to a 5–1 victory over their promotion rivals. He opened his side's account again in a 4–2 home win over Bristol Rovers on 24 November, prompting Charlton manager Phil Parkinson
to extend Mooney's loan deal with the club for another four weeks, until 28 December.
Having played a part in three of his side's goals, Mooney sustained a knee injury in the club's 4–4 draw against arch rivals Millwall
on 19 December, which saw him out of action for the rest of 2009. He returned to Reading at the end of the year, only to re-join Charlton again on 14 January, in a new loan deal set to run until 11 February. However, on 28 January, Mooney's loan was extended until the end of the season.
Mooney finished with six goals from a total of 31 appearances for the Addicks, with one goal coming on his last appearance for the club, a League One play-off semi-final defeat (Charlton had won 2–1 on the night, but lost the tie after a penalty shoot-out) against Swindon Town
.
on loan until 3 January 2011. He came on as a substitute in the U's first league game of the season, a 2–2 draw at Exeter City
. Mooney then scored twice on his full debut for the club, with a pair of first half goals in a 3–0 League Cup win over Hereford United
. He scored his first league goal for Colchester in a 1–1 draw at home to Carlisle United
on 27 August.
Mooney scored twice on his first appearance in the FA Cup
, a 4–3 first round win over Bradford City on 6 November.
Mooney initially had a loan deal which ran until 6 January, but decided to return to Colchester United for the remainder of 2010/2011 season. He finished as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions as they finished in 10th place in nPower League One. With his Reading contract expiring in June 2011, Mooney became a free agent. However, in July 2011, it was reported, after some speculation, that Mooney would not be returning to the U's on a permanent basis.
, where he links up with former Norwich City team-mate Jamie Cureton
. He scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup game against Bristol Rovers
, following it with a goal against Blackburn Rovers
in the next round. Mooney then scored his first two league goals, away at Yeovil Town
on 25 October, as the game ended 2–2.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer, currently playing for Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
.
Shamrock Rovers
Born in Dublin, Mooney joined Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
, his first senior club, in 2000 and scored in every round when Rovers' won the U17 All Ireland title against Kingdom Boys in 2002. He made his first team debut coming on as a sub against Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
on 6 April 2004. His first goal came on 24 June 2004 against the doomed Dublin City
Dublin City F.C.
Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...
. In his fifteen months in the first team he scored nine goals in 40 total appearances.
Due to Rovers' financial position at the time players had to be sold on and Mooney moved to Longford. His last game in the Hoops was against Cork City on 22 July 2005.
Longford Town
He made his Longford debut on 6 August 2005 in a 1–0 win over Bohemians. His scoring return of 19 goals in the 2007 League of Ireland Premier Division season ensured he was top scorer in the league http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html. Mooney's goals also led Longford Town to the final of the FAI CupFAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
. However despite Mooney's heroics throughout the season Longford Town were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division, albeit with a six point deduction, and lost the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final to Cork City.
His excellent form throughout the season did not go un-noticed and he was nominated for the PFAI Player of the Year and won the FAI Player of the Year http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ierpoy.html as well as the Player of the Month award for August 2007.
Cork City
After Mooney's spectacular form throughout the 2007 League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
season it was obvious that he would be playing somewhere else than First Division football in Flancare Park
Flancare Park
Flancare Park is a soccer stadium in Longford, Ireland. It is the home stadium of League of Ireland side Longford Town F.C.. Flancare Park has also held numerous international underage matches. The stadium underwent a huge redevelopment at the end of 2000/2001 season...
. He had been linked with a move to the Football League next season with Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
sides Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
reportedly interested in signing the striker. Representatives from Premier League side Fulham were said to have been in attendance at the FAI Cup final, and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
manager Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
had also watched Mooney in action.
However Mooney promised to follow his manager Alan Mathews
Alan Mathews
Alan Mathews is a former Irish footballer and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division side Shelbourne.-Player:As a player, Mathews played for St...
down south if he was to stay in Ireland. He had been offered a contract by English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, but instead signed a longer three-year contract with perennial title challengers Cork City in January 2008 thus ending two and a half years in the midlands.
Mooney was a revelation in his only season with Cork City, racing to the top of the goalscoring charts again. He was widely regarded as one of the best players in the league. A particularly impressive showing against Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
at The Brandywell saw Mooney score twice in a minute to bring the game (which Derry had dominated) level at 2–2, and come close to completing his hat-trick just moments later with a speculative 30-yard effort that came back off an upright (a spectacular goal from Denis Behan
Denis Behan
Denis Behan is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Limerick in the League of Ireland First Division.-Youth level:...
eventually gave Cork all three points). Before European football came to Turner's Cross
Turners Cross (stadium)
Turners Cross is an all-seater football stadium located in and synonymous with the district of Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland. It is home to the Munster Football Association, and League of Ireland side Cork City FC....
midway through the season, Mooney had scored 18 goals in total, and broken his team mate Behan's record for a scoring run by netting 11 goals in six matches. He then scored on his European debut, in a 2–2 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
draw with Finnish side FC Haka
FC Haka
Haka is a Finnish football club, based in the industry town of Valkeakoski. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.- History :...
http://www.corkcityfc.ie/main.php.
Reading
However, Mooney would only last another month at Cork City. It was revealed on 12 August 2008 that the club was in the region of €800,000 debt. However, this was not the only reason. Mooney's season was similar to Roy O'DonovanRoy O'Donovan
Roy Simon O'Donovan is an Irish footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Coventry City. He has been capped for his country at Under-19, Under-21 and B level.-Club career:...
's the season before. Already top of the goalscoring charts, Mooney had attracted renewed interest from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. One of the clubs was Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. On 20 August, he signed for them for a fee believed to be in the region of €260,000. Mooney was given squad number 12.
Mooney made his Reading debut in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, coming on as a substitute against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
(according to the Reading official website he had also lined up alongside Reading teammate Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C...
for Shamrock Rovers, which is untrue as Hunt had left the club 15 months prior to Mooney's debut). He then made an extra time appearance in a League Cup penalty shootout defeat against Stoke City. On 2 June 2011, Mooney was released after his contract expired.
Norwich City
Mooney had a loan spell (cut short by injury) with League One side Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
midway through the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, but in March 2009, he moved on a month's loan to Championship strugglers Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. He scored twice in his first three appearances for the Canaries, including the opener in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, and the only goal of the game against fellow relegation candidates Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. As a result, Mooney's loan spell at Carrow Road was extended until the end of the season. Although he would eventually total three goals in nine league games for the club, his contribution would not be enough to prevent Norwich from being relegated.
Due to the different time-frame of the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
season, the end of the 2008–09 campaign brought Mooney his first break from playing and training since March 2008.
Charlton Athletic
Mooney scored his first Reading goals on his full debut for the club, scoring twice at home to Burton Albion in a first round Carling Cup tie on 11 August 2009.However, on 16 October it was announced that Mooney would be joining League One side Charlton Athletic on an emergency loan until 1 December. He made his first team debut the next day, coming on as a late substitute in Charlton's
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
2–1 victory against Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
at The Valley. After two more appearances as a substitute, Mooney was handed his first league start for the club against MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
at The Valley on 14 November, and scored an equalising goal in the 13th minute to set the Addicks on their way to a 5–1 victory over their promotion rivals. He opened his side's account again in a 4–2 home win over Bristol Rovers on 24 November, prompting Charlton manager Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson
Philip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:...
to extend Mooney's loan deal with the club for another four weeks, until 28 December.
Having played a part in three of his side's goals, Mooney sustained a knee injury in the club's 4–4 draw against arch rivals Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 19 December, which saw him out of action for the rest of 2009. He returned to Reading at the end of the year, only to re-join Charlton again on 14 January, in a new loan deal set to run until 11 February. However, on 28 January, Mooney's loan was extended until the end of the season.
Mooney finished with six goals from a total of 31 appearances for the Addicks, with one goal coming on his last appearance for the club, a League One play-off semi-final defeat (Charlton had won 2–1 on the night, but lost the tie after a penalty shoot-out) against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
.
Colchester United
On 5 August 2010 it was announced that Mooney would be joining League One side Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on loan until 3 January 2011. He came on as a substitute in the U's first league game of the season, a 2–2 draw at Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. Mooney then scored twice on his full debut for the club, with a pair of first half goals in a 3–0 League Cup win over Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
. He scored his first league goal for Colchester in a 1–1 draw at home to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
on 27 August.
Mooney scored twice on his first appearance in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, a 4–3 first round win over Bradford City on 6 November.
Mooney initially had a loan deal which ran until 6 January, but decided to return to Colchester United for the remainder of 2010/2011 season. He finished as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions as they finished in 10th place in nPower League One. With his Reading contract expiring in June 2011, Mooney became a free agent. However, in July 2011, it was reported, after some speculation, that Mooney would not be returning to the U's on a permanent basis.
Leyton Orient
On 23 July 2011 Mooney signed his first permanent contract since 2008, a two-year deal with League One side Leyton OrientLeyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, where he links up with former Norwich City team-mate Jamie Cureton
Jamie Cureton
Jamie Cureton is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Leyton Orient.-Early years:Cureton began his professional career with Norwich City, before moving on to Bristol Rovers...
. He scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup game against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, following it with a goal against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in the next round. Mooney then scored his first two league goals, away at Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on 25 October, as the game ended 2–2.