SIMON MOORE cannot wait to tackle his 17th season as a professional after completing a summer move to Sunderland.
Isle of Wight-born Moore recently signed for the Black Cats on a two-year deal. He might have amassed plenty of top-level experience, but he stills feel the excitement of a teenager for the challenges that lay ahead with the Championship club.
Although Moore will be understudy to Anthony Patterson, he is embracing his new role supporting the young keeper.
Moore, with 206 appearances, having played for Brentford, Sheffield United, Coventry City, Bristol City and Cardiff City, also has his FIFA goalkeeper coaching badges, so plans to not only serve Sunderland, but to stay in the game in the long term.
His younger brother, Stuart, is also a professional goalkeeper, currently with League Two Morecambe. Their father and grandfather were also goalkeepers.
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Moore said of his move to the North-East: "I'm proud to be part of such a huge football club like Sunderland and excited about embracing the challenge.
"My role is to support Anthony and to pass on my experience to the young squad. But I have the hunger and desire to work hard for any opportunities that come along."
This will be Moore's 17th season in professional football. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since he started at Brading Town.
With Sheffield United, the 34-year-old was a hero — winning the League One title and making the division's team of the season, before gaining promotion from the Championship and playing in the Premier League — the pinnacle of his career.
He then spent three seasons at Coventry, helping them reach the play-off final at Wembley as substitute keeper two seasons ago.
"I spent three brilliant seasons at Coventry, after I signed from Sheffield United on the back of five successful and happy years there," said Moore.
But once the season ended and the dust settled, Moore received a call out of the blue, which has taken his career on a new path — to the North-East.
"I thought it was time to move on and get a fresh challenge," Moore adds. "The move to Sunderland happened very quickly. You just don't know where sport is going to take you.
"Sunderland is a huge club, massively well supported. A club of this magnitude deserves to be at the top.
"I'm still young at heart, with a lot to give to the game. I've learned so much over the years. I reckon I've got another five or six good years left in me.
"For now, I'm at Sunderland. I will be working hard and continuing to learn and I'll see where it takes me."
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