Player Profile

An experienced striker, Mooney signed on a free transfer from Birmingham City during the 2003/2004 pre-season, after admitting he came close to retiring, having become disillusioned with the game during his time with the Blues.

Despite a pre-season campaign interrupted by injury, Mooney immediately installed himself as a firm fans' favourite with a committed performance on his debut - a 3-2 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the season. Mooney soon followed this up with his first goal, coming off the bench to score the winner in a Carling Cup tie against his former club, Southend.

Mooney quickly formed a formidable attacking partnership with Sam Parkin, and himself scored nine goals in his first fourteen games - and a phenomenon described by the Adver as "Mooneymania" had begun - the supporter's trust even sold bald Mooney caps! An injury to Parkin in October broke up the partnership for the first time, and Mooney seemed to suffer as a result - but a run of twelve league games without a goal was ended with a brace against Bournemouth, which prompted a burst of eight goals in seven games, including a spectacular twenty yard strike at Sheffield Wednesday, as the Town hauled themselves up into the play-off places. He ended the season as the club's second top scorer with twenty goals, just behind top scorer Parkin - and the Town fans recognised his contribution to the team when he won all of the "Player of the Year" awards.

Mooney himself began to look jaded towards the end of the season, and the form of new signing Rory Fallon saw him rested for the final few games, before being recalled for the play-offs. It was a competition in which Mooney had no luck whatsoever - missing a sitter in the first leg, hitting the woodwork in both games, before having a penalty brilliantly saved in the shoot out against Brighton.

The missed penalty proved to be Mooney's last action in a Town shirt. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, and with rumoured interest from Walsall and Bristol City, Mooney's contract negotiations seemed to take place through the media. The club were adamant that the proposed deal was the best the club could afford, but Mooney said the deal did not match a verbal offer he received earlier in the season - and after two deadlines set by the club passed by, it was finally announced that he would leave at the end of his contract. Worse was to follow, however - when just two weeks later, Mooney signed a contract with local rivals Oxford United.

Playing Record

Senior

Career details

Club	Details
Billingham Synthonia Billingham Synthonia
Aston Villa Aston Villa	November 23rd, 1989 ; released (1989/0)
Scarborough Scarborough	August 1990 ; transferred out (July 12th, 1993)
Southend United Southend United	July 12th, 1993 (transferred in , £100,000 ); transferred out (rptd July 21st, 1994)
Watford Watford	March 17th, 1994 (loan)
Watford Watford	rptd July 21st, 1994 (transferred in, exchange , £95,000 exchange deal of £95,000 plus Derek Payne for Keith Dublin); transferred out (rptd June 8th, 2001)
Birmingham City Birmingham	July 1st, 2001 (announced June 8th, 2001) (transferred in, Bosman free transfer); released (2002/3)
Stoke City Stoke City	September 13th, 2002 (loan); expired (rptd December 18th, 2002)
Sheffield United Sheffield United	January 17th, 2003 (loan); expired (rptd March 5th, 2003)
Derby County Derby County	March 19th, 2003 (loan); expired (rptd May 5th, 2003)
Swindon Town Swindon	July 21st, 2003 (announced July 8th, 2003) (unattached); released (2003/4)
Oxford United Oxford United	July 30th, 2004 (unattached); released (2004/5)
Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers	July 27th, 2005 (unattached); released (2006/7)
Walsall Walsall	July 11th, 2007 (unattached); released (rptd May 6th, 2008)
UD Marbella Marbella	cs 2008 (unattached); retired (December 2008)
Marbella Paraiso Marbella Paraiso	2008/9 (youth coach)