Moore: William Riddell (Billy)

1924-1925 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Sunderland: 10-03-1903

Debut: v Newcastle United (h): 15-11-1924

5’9 1/2” 12st 7lb (1925)

Billy Moore, who was no relation to his goalkeeping namesake Stan, was one of the most colourful characters on United’s books. He took up goalkeeping at school and also practiced at a Sunderland fairground when he took time off his work as a shipyard carpenter. He played for Limited Yard Apprentices and was offered professional terms by Blackburn Rovers, but he rejected them as he wanted to continue his apprenticeship. After he became a qualified carpenter, Leeds signed him from Seaham Colliery in March 1924. He was also a pianist in a dance band. Although popular at Leeds, United were well served by Billy Down, Bill Johnson and David Russell and his chances were few. In June 1925, he moved to Southend United, giving them ten years excellent service, making two hundred and eighty-five League appearances, eighteen F.A. Cup and one other Cup appearance for them. It was while at Kursaal that he got to play at Wembley Stadium in unusual circumstances. Their away fixture at Clapton Orient’s Lea Bridge Road stadium was moved to Wembley Stadium as Orient’s ground had been closed following a bad injury to a Torquay United player resulting from the close proximity of the pitch barrier to the playing surface. While remedial work was carried out the East Londoners were forced to hire the Empire Stadium in order to stage two home games. The first resulted in an easy 3-0 win over Brentford in front of a healthy 8,000 plus crowd. However, the visit of Southend United attracted a crowd of only 1,916 which must have looked very odd in vast stadium with a then capacity of 100,000. So Billy Moore and former Leeds Left-Back, Dave Robinson, managed to play at Wembley in a 3-1 defeat by Clapton Orient, albeit in a Third Division South fixture on 6th December 1930. He left Southend in June 1936 and went back North and joined Hartlepools United. He made his Hartlepools United debut on 24th October 1936 in a 0-1 defeat at Port Vale and made sixteen League appearances for them before retiring. He died in 1962.