Former Villa striker strengthens Brakes’ promotion bid

Leamington have made a bold move to reignite their stuttering title challenge with the signing of former Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore.

Moore, who was released by Brakes’ Southern Premier League rivals St Neots Town earlier this month, has scored ten goals this term and will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s home clash with Bedworth.

It is a timely boost for Paul Holleran’s side who have struggled for goals in the absence of the injured Ricky Johnson, losing three of their last four league games in the process.

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Despite that, they still lie just four points off leaders Hemel Hempstead with four games in hand and Holleran sees 29-year-old Moore as the perfect man to pep up his misfiring attack.

“Stefan is a proven goalscorer but he has a lot more to his game in terms of movement and awareness and he is likely to have as many assists as goals scored,” said Holleran. “We are delighted to have him on board’.

After a career which hit the heights with a goal on debut for Premier League side Aston Villa, Moore is rumoured to still command huge wages.

However, chairman Jim Scott said it was ambition rather than money that swung the deal Leamington’s way, with their financial package lagging some way behind Moore’s other suitors.

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“Stefan made it clear that he wanted to come to Leamington,” said Scott.

“He had much better offers on the table, but liked the ambition of our club and the great support that we have.

“It also helped that he had played with three of our lads at Halesowen Town and that he wanted to be part of our drive for promotion.”

Moore began his career with Romulus before signing for Aston Villa, who he captained to an FA Youth Cup final victory over Everton in 2002 alongside his younger brother Luke.

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Having made his Football League debut during a loan spell at Chesterfield in 2001, Moore scored on his Premier League against Charlton Athletic on the opening day of the 2002/03 campaign.

A knee injury halted his progress at Villa Park and he spent spells on loan at Milwall and Leicester City before earning a transfer to Queens Park Rangers in 2005.

After a three-year spell at Loftus Road which included a loan spell at Port Vale, he had a brief stint at Walsall before dropping into the non-league game with Kidderminster Harriers.

It was only in the 2009/10 season that he hit the goal trail, lining up alongside Liam Daly, Jamie Hood and Stefan Morley at Halesowen Town and claiming the Southern League Premier Division’s top scorer award with 37 goals.

He then made the switch to St Neots Town, lifting them to back-to-back titles thanks to 78 goals in 83 appearances.