Brian Mooney

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Brian Mooney
Personal information
Full name	Brian John Mooney
Date of birth	February 02, 1966 (age 41)
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height	5'10"
Nickname	The Moons
Playing position	Midfield
Youth clubs
1981-1983	Home Farm
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1983-1987 1986-1987 1987-1991 1991-1993 1992-1993 1983-1993	Liverpool Wrexham (Loan) Preston North End Sunderland Burnley (Loan) Total	000 0(0) 008 0(2) 128 (20) 027 0(1) 006 0(0) 169 (23)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Brian Mooney, ( b.2 February 1966) is an Irish former footballer who made his name as a skillful winger in the English football league. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Brian was spotted in 1983 by Liverpool F.C playing for legendary Irish feeder club Home Farm F.C.He went to school at St. Joesphs C.B.S. in Fairview, Dublin.

Contents 1 Liverpool 2 The Preston years 3 The move to Sunderland 4 Back home

[edit] Liverpool

Having signed for Liverpool, Brian immediately started to turn heads with some outstanding performances for Liverpool F.C. Reserves even breaking into the Republic of Ireland u21 side. Breaking into the Liverpool first team however was a different matter. With a team consisting of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Craig Johnston, Ronnie Whelan and the like coupled with the fact that they were at the time the top club side in Europe it became increasingly difficult for Brian to make a breakthrough playing in the end just one first team game in a Football League Cup tie against Fulham in October 1986. Even a successful loan spell in 1986 at Wrexham (8 games,2 goals) only added to Brian's desperate need for regular first team action. However, in October 1987 things took a turn for the better.

[edit] The Preston years

With newly promoted Preston North End struggling in the English third division manager John McGrath brought in both Brian and Tony Ellis with Brian initially on a months loan. Both players were an instant success with Brian becoming the darling of the Deepdale terraces. At the end of his loan spell Liverpool agreed to sell Brian for the moderate fee of £25,000. The next three and a half years were for Brian a very successful period with his undoubted natural ability attracting the attention of many top flight clubs and the eye of Republic of Ireland boss Jack Charlton. In all Brian played 128 games for Preston scoring 26 goals and was named the clubs official player of the year in 1988-89.

[edit] The move to Sunderland

Although a Republic of Ireland cap eluded him Brian did in the end earn a move to top flight Sunderland A.F.C. with the Rokerites (now the Black Cats) paying a fee of £225,000 for Brian's services. His time at Sunderland was however a disaster with the club being relegated almost immediately and Brian managing just 27 appearances (1 goal) in an injury ravaged two years. A loan spell at Burnley F.C. didn't help either with a now disillusioned Mooney dead set against the move, however with Sunderland wanting Brian to play competitive games he did in his month there make 6 appearances for the Turf Moor outfit without scoring. Injury and mismanagement put pay to Brian's career at Roker Park and although at the end of his contract there was interest from several other English clubs, Peterborough United being the most notable, Brian decided that at the age of 27 to return to Ireland.

[edit] Back home

Upon his return to Ireland Brian played part time for Shelbourne FC and Bohemian F.C. winning both league and cup honours as well as for University College Dublin FC where he was also studying full time for a degree. During his time playing in the Football League of Ireland Brian fulfilled a life's ambition of playing in both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup as well as well as playing for the Football League of Ireland Representative Team.