Ex-Socceroo on Deck

Animaniacfootball.blogspot.com - FORMER Socceroo skipper Craig Moore is set to make a guest appearance in Lismore next month for Richmond Rovers with his impending registration awaiting Football FNC approval.

Rovers have been working behind the scenes for sometime to secure the defender and on May 12, when the Rovers play Goonellabah at their home at Nielson Park, the 36-year-old will become the focal point of football on the Northern Rivers.

"He'll be down on the 12th of May, will sign autographs and have posters for the kids," Rovers representative Vicki Bugden said. "Then he'll play in the game that night against Goonellabah."

Moore made 52 appearances for the Socceroos, including the 2006 and 2010 World Cups in Germany and South Africa, after his national team debut in 1995. His 2006 World Cup highlight was scoring, from the penalty spot, against Croatia in Stuttgart in the 2-2 draw that sent Australia to the final 16 - the first and only time the Socceroos have progressed past the World Cup group stage.

Moore was a player many loved to hate due to his take no prisoners approach to the game had two stints at Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers where he made 252 appearances from 1993 to 2005.

That was followed by half a season at German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, before moving to English Premier League club Newcastle United. After two seasons plagued by injury at St James Park, Moore was released and returned to Brisbane where he captained the Roar for three seasons.

Moore's strong personal make-up and courage carried him through his 2008 scare with testicular cancer and after successful treatment returned to his professional career. He didn't feature in Ange Postecoglou's plans when the former national youth coach took over the reins at the Roar. Moore headed to Greek Super League side AO Kavala in January 2010 lasting just three months.

In November last year Moore was inducted, along with Ned Zelic and Dianne Alagich, into the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Hall of Fame. "Moore's representation of Australia at every underage level before going on to feature strongly in two FIFA World Cups marks him as one of the true greats of the modern game," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said at the time. (Source : www.news-mail.com.au)