Luke Isaac Moore (born 13 February 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He represented England at England U21 level. He is the younger brother of former professional footballer Stefan Moore and uncle to current Aston Villa youth team player Kobei Moore.
Club career Aston Villa
As a youngster, Moore played for Romulus and Tame Valley Primary School. As a member of Aston Villa's youth academy, he was prohibited from appearing for his secondary school, Hodge Hill college, but nevertheless appeared in "a couple of cup games" for the school. Moore is the younger brother of the former Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore. Together they were a crucial part of the Villa FA Youth Cup winning team of 2002. In April 2002, Moore moved onto YTS status and then in February 2004, he signed his professional contract with the club.
In December 2003, Moore was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers, who had failed in their approach for him earlier in the season. He made his Wycombe Wanderers début in a 1–1 draw against Notts County on 13 December 2003. Moore only had to wait until his next game, against AFC Bournemouth to score his début goal in a 2–0 victory. On 3 January 2004, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 4–1 home win over Grimsby Town. His loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers ended shortly after.
Upon his return to Aston Villa, Moore made his first-team debut, as a substitute in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City. At the start of the 2004–05 season, he made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–0 win against Southampton in the opening game of the season. Since then, Moore found himself in and out of the starting line–up in the first team, as he found himself in a competition with Juan Pablo Ángel, Carlton Cole and Darius Vassell over the striker position. As a result, Moore appeared in the first team, mostly coming on as a substitute. On 5 February 2005, when Moore made his first starts for Aston Villa and played the whole game, as they lost 3–1 against Arsenal. His first senior goal for Villa came in the 2–0 victory against Middlesbrough on 5 March 2005. At the end of the 2004–05 season, he went on to make twenty–two appearances and scoring once in all competitions. Shortly after, Moore signed a contract extension with the club, signing a three–year contract with a 12-month option extension.
Ahead of the 2005–06 season, Moore made an impression in the club's pre–season tour, including scoring six times in a 14–0 win against Gällstads on 20 July 2005. Despite Villa signing additional forwards such as Kevin Phillips and Milan Baroš in the summer of 2005, Moore kept his place in the first-team squad, starting some games and coming on from the bench in others. The departure of Phillips and the injury to Baroš ensured his place as a starter for the first team at the beginning of the Premiership season. He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Chelsea on 24 September 2005. As a result, Moore became the first player to breach Chelsea's defence this season, leading to earn £10,000 and gave it to a local charity of his choosing. This was followed up by scoring his second goal of the season, in a 3–2 loss against Middlesbrough. Two months later on 28 December 2005, he scored his third goal of the season, in a 3–3 draw against Fulham. Moore then scored an equalising goal, in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea on 1 February 2006. Three days later on 4 February 2006, Moore scored his first Premiership hat-trick for Villa, again against Middlesbrough. A week later on 11 February 2006, he scored his eighth goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Newcastle United. His performance in a number of matches earned praise from his teammates and Manager David O'Leary. However, towards the end of the 2005–06 season, Moore lost his first team place and was placed at the reserve side. Despite this, his eight league goals have played a crucial part but only because of injuries to Villa's senior strikers and went on to make thirty–two appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Moore faced uncertainty over his future at Aston Villa following a new ownership. Eventually, his future at the club was resolved following talks with new Manager Martin O'Neill. He scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against Newcastle United on 27 August 2007. Moore then scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–0 victory over Charlton Athletic on 23 September 2006. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he was featured in the first team for the first eight matches of the season. Moore sustained a serious injury to his right shoulder in a game against Chelsea, an injury which had been persistent during his career. Moore travelled to the US to undergo surgery in October 2006, with Cleveland Browns' head team physician Anthony Miniaci carrying out the procedure, following advice from Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner. After spending three months on the sidelines, he returned from injury, playing in a behind close door match against Walsall on 24 January 2007. Following this, Moore appeared in a handful matches in the club's reserve to regain his fitness. He even rejected a loan move to a Championship club, preferring to regain his fitness at the club's reserve side instead. Moore returned from his shoulder injury on 9 April 2007, coming on as a substitute for Shaun Maloney against Wigan Athletic at Villa Park. On 14 April 2007, having again come on as a substitute, he scored with a header in a 3–1 win against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Moore came on against Bolton Wanderers in the last Villa game of the season to equalise in the 83rd minute, earning Villa a draw. At the end of the 2006–07 season, he went on to make fourteen appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2007–08 season, Moore was linked a move away from Aston Villa, with clubs around England interested in signing him. Amid the transfer speculation, he scored a hat trick for Aston Villa in the friendly match with Toronto FC on 25 July 2007. Three days later on 28 July 2007, Moore scored in a follow–up match, in a 3–1 win against Columbus Crew. His performance earned praise from Manager O'Neill. He continued to be featured in and out of the starting eleven for the side, mostly coming from the substitute bench. Despite this, Moore scored his first goal of the season, in a 5–0 win against Wrexham in the second round of the League Cup. Two months later on 28 October 2007, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Bolton Wanderers. However, Moore's poor performance led him to be dropped from the first team, as well as, his own injury concern. As a result, he was expected to leave West Bromwich Albion despite having his contract option taken up by Aston Villa. By the time he departed from the club, Moore went on to make fifteen appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
West Bromwich Albion In January 2008, Villa manager Martin O'Neill revealed that Rangers manager Walter Smith had contacted him about possibly signing Moore. O'Neill quoted Rangers with a price of £3.5 million for Moore. A month later on 22 February, Moore joined rivals West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season, signing a deal to join permanently for £3.5 million in the summer of 2008.
Moore made his Albion debut on 23 February 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 home defeat to Hull City. He received the first red card of his career in a 4–1 home defeat to Leicester City on 15 March 2008. Despite being suspended, Moore was featured in and out of the starting eleven for the side, mostly coming on from the substitute bench. West Bromwich Albion was promoted to the Premier league after beating Queens Park Rangers 2–0 in the last game of the season. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he went on to make ten appearances in all competitions.
On 28 May 2008, Moore completed his transfer to the newly promoted Premiership side for a fee of £3 million. Ahead of the 2008–09 season, he was challenged by Manager Tony Mowbray to fight his way to the first team. However at the start of the 2008–09 season, he suffered a thigh injury that kept him out for two weeks. Moore's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came on 26 August 2008 against Hartlepool United in the second round of the League Cup, starting the whole game, in a 3–1 loss. Since returning from injury, he found himself in and out of the starting line–up, mostly coming on from the substitute bench and his form struggled. As a result, local newspaper Birmingham Mail branded both Scott Carson and Moore as "miserable pair" from Aston Villa, due to "becoming the on-pitch jokers" in the club's recent matches. He then scored his first goal for West Brom on 21 December 2008 against Manchester City. Despite earning support from his teammates to regain his goal scoring form, Moore failed to exceed expectations and found himself in a sidelined, including another thigh injury. Eventually, the club was relegated to the Championship after losing 2–0 against Liverpool on 17 May 2009. At the end of the 2008–09 season, he went on to make twenty–three appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2009–10 Championship season, Moore was allowed to leave the club following his performance last season. But he quickly impressed Manager Roberto Di Matteo, scoring three times in the club's pre–season friendly matches. In the opening game of the season against Newcastle United, Moore set up the opening goal for Shelton Martis, in a 1–1 draw. A week later on 18 August 2009, he opened his account with a brace in the 3–2 victory at Peterborough United. Since the start of the 2009–10 season, Moore regained his first team place under the management of Di Matteo and formed a partnership with Simon Cox. Despite suffering injuries on two occasions in September, he managed to score his third goal of the season, as well as, setting up two goals, in a 5–0 win against Watford on 31 October 2009. Moore soon became a subject of chant from West Bromwich Albion's supporters over his goal scoring form. Two months later on 26 December 2009, he scored his fourth goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against Peterborough United. However, Moore's scoring record after was poor in the second half of the season that he was subjected of booing by the club's supporters. As a result, Moore was demoted to the substitute bench for the rest of the 2009–10 season. Despite this, the club was promoted back to the Premier League after beating Doncaster Rovers 3–2 on 10 April 2010. At the end of the 2009–10 season, he went on to make twenty–nine appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2010–11 season, it was widely expected that he would leave West Bromwich Albion during the 2010 summer transfer window. Amid to his future at the club, he made one appearance for the side, which came in a 2–0 win against Leyton Orient in the first round of the League Cup, which was his only appearance of the season for West Bromwich Albion. Upon leaving West Bromwich Albion, the club's chairman Jeremy Peace said he regretted signing Moore for paying a big transfer fee.
Derby County (loan) On 1 September 2010, Moore was not included in West Bromwich Albion's 25-man squad for the new season therefore deeming him surplus to requirements at the Hawthorns, a move which saw him join Football League Championship side Derby County later that same month on a 29-day loan deal.