Most interviews with Tranmere Rovers players are conducted at the club’s training ground. So why is 90 MINUTES sat in the players’ lounge at Prenton Park with Ian Moore?
“Mmm. Nice in here, isn’t it Ian?”
“You can’t do an interview at Valley Road without at least one of the lads pulling faces behind you or doing something to put you off,” says rising Tranmere star Ian Moore. “Danny Coyne was doing an interview for Granada Television and all the lads drove past with their car horns blasting.”
No interruptions today, though, as the much talked about teenager in Rovers’ bid for the play-offs sits opposite. Talk turns to pre-season and a decision one Lancashire club may regret.
“I was offered a contract at Preston North End during the summer. They had a really good set-up, but I wanted to wait a bit. When Chris Malkin left for Millwall, I thought, ‘This could be a good chance for me.’ John King told me that if I knuckled down and scored a few, I’d be in the team.”
To date, the 19-year-old has not disappointed: eight goals in seven full first-team games in what is still ostensibly “a learning process”. And when your personal tutors are the oldest men in the world, John Aldridge and Gary Bennett, “…there is nobody better to learn from”. Nuff said.
“They’re always talking to me – giving me confidence.”
Confidence, however, is not really a problem for the youngster, as Derby County, Norwich City and Leicester City all found out to their cost recently. Moore’s sleight of foot and pace destroyed the Rams in a 5–1 humiliation, and his televised performance at Carrow Road merited the Man of the Match award (“Nice trophy, that.”) and a bottle of champagne (“My dad enjoyed that.”).
“I’ve never lacked confidence. I’ve always scored goals since I was young, and scoring can only help the confidence more. As a forward, it’s your job to score.”
Not that Moore need feel despondent. His current form suggests that he may be more than equal to the success of his father, former Rovers, Rotherham and Charlton centre-forward Ronnie – now assistant to King at Prenton Park.
“He keeps quiet, really, which is unusual for him, but he’s made up for me, really.”
And the Nigel Clough/Kevin Bond ‘Daddy’s Boy’ syndrome has had no effect so far?
“Normally, it’s ‘Son of Coach’ here. But that’s all in good humour. Away fans tend to chant it, but it’s water off a duck’s back and usually spurs me on to knock a goal in and quieten them down. It’s just something you’ve got to accept.”
Things have come a long way at Tranmere since Ronnie led the Rovers’ forward-line. Even to the point where the youngsters now have their own away-day entertainment.
“He’s a card shark and keeps saying he’ll show me a few tricks. Gary Jones, Alan Rogers, Danny and myself usually get the Monopoly out on coach trips. Everyone else has the real money and we’ve got the pretend stuff.”
According to reports, a variety of Premiership clubs are prepared to offer some very real cash to prise the youngster away from Birkenhead, but our hero is not moved by the speculation.
“I’ve got three years to come at Tranmere and I’m looking forward to them,” he says. “I’ve no need to move out of home because I’m not going anywhere.”
Something everybody at the club will be relieved to hear, particularly those more ‘experienced’ fans who like to remind Moore of his formative years.
“Every time I’m around the ground, some supporters will come up to me and say, ‘Ooh, I remember you when you were this big.’ Very embarrassing.”
After Moore’s debut for the England Under-18s – he scored a hat trick against Denmark (“…not many people can say that”) – the whole squad ganged up to celebrate in a rather callous fashion.
“Before the Millwall game last season, another magazine rang me in my hotel room looking for an interview. I was asked what it was like playing for England and replied, ‘Oh, it was brilliant to sing the National Anthem.’ Interview done, I came down for the meal, everybody was stood up, hands on hearts singing God Save The Queen. Turned out my interviewers had been Danny Coyne and Shaun Garnett.”
Perhaps the last laugh will be with Moore one day when Terry Venables knocks?
“I’ve got to make the Under-21s next, against Robbie Fowler. But at the moment my main aim is to receive a Golden Boot award. My dad keeps saying, ‘Wait until you’ve got one of these’, while showing me his. I just want one to break even with him.”