Once lauded as one of the most promising, young English players in the Premier League, the former Aston Villa yougster Stefan Moore has almost fallen off the face off the football world. He now plays his football for Halesowen Town in the Southern League Premier Division. From a player who promised so much in his youth, it has been a quite spectacular fall from grace.
Moore first appeared on football fans’ radars when he scored a hat-trick and captained Aston Villa to a FA Youth Cup Final win over an Everton side that included Wayne Rooney in 2002. Both Stefan, and his brother Luke, appeared to be destined for great things. Stefan scored on his Premier League debut for Villa as he scored a fantastic goal from 18 yards against Charlton Athletic at the beginning of the 2002/03 season. Moore went on to make fourteen more appearances in that season before a knee injury curtailed his progress. On his return from injury, Moore struggled to establish himself in the Villa side and had loan spells at Millwall and Leicester City. With first team football out of his reach at Villa, Moore moved on a free transfer to QPR in 2005.
At QPR, Moore made twenty-seven appearances in his first season but only managed the paltry total of two goals. Moore’s spell at QPR was not a success and he was loaned out to Port Vale where he made fifteen appearances but only managed one goal. In early 2008, Moore was released by QPR and after a impressing in a trial, he signed for Walsall. Unfortunately, he failed to impress again and was released in the summer after five appearances. An unsuccessful trial at Melbourne Victory was followed by a spell at Kidderminster Harriers last season; once again Moore struggled to make an impact and only got the one goal.
You could have forgiven Moore for giving up at this stage, but he joined up with Silhill and played with their fourth team in the Birmingham and District AFA League Division Five to try and regain his fitness. It was then that he signed for his current club, Halesowen Town.
Moore’s descent through the divisions has been quite extraordinary; he showed genuine promise at Premier League level, but a couple of injuries at bad times have lead to an epic fall from grace. He should be commended for persevering with his career; it would have been easy to become disheartened by his repeated failures; but it is clear the Moore has a real love for the game and is willing to pursue a career in football at any level.
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As a Villa fan I watched the FA Youth Cup Final where Stefan genuinely looked a better prospect than one Mr Rooney who was marked out of the game by a promising Liam Ridgewell. How things change!!
Another from the “suck my teeth, bling bling, I got a nice car now crew”
Couldn’t happen to a nicer a guy. took my son then aged five to bodymoor heath. He collected some autographs Dion Dublin and Angel were fantastic. Moore open the window to my son and my son went over as he did he drove off laughing and cocky. Who’s laughing now? to much to soon couldn’t handle it ya big tit :o)