Dorking Wanderers can today confirm that, following the conclusion of the 25/26 season, midfielder Luke Moore has announced his retirement from football.
In a career which has spanned two decades, ‘Mooro’ has represented Ebbsfleet United, AFC Wimbledon, Margate, Billericay Town, Leatherhead and Ashford Town alongside Dorking Wanderers, the club he ultimately finishes his career with and has made the most appearances for, with 260 matches played across all competitions.
Born in Gravesend, Kent, Luke began his footballing journey rising through the youth ranks with local club Ebbsfleet United, going on to make his competitive league debut with ‘The Fleet’ on August 15th 2006 against Tamworth. Starting out as a forward player, Luke’s first goal would follow just a fortnight after his debut – the match-winner in a 1-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers. Recording over a century of appearances for Ebbsfleet, Luke earned his first silverware with the club as well, part of the side victorious in the FA Trophy after defeating Torquay United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium in 2008, in front of a crowd of over 40,000 spectators.
In the summer of 2009, ahead of their first season competing in the Conference Premier (National League), Luke made the switch across to AFC Wimbledon, immediately becoming a regular starter as the team pushed for another promotion. At the end of the following season, they would achieve that in dramatic fashion, defeating Luton Town via penalties at the City of Manchester Stadium following a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time, Luke scoring his spot-kick as The Dons won the shoot-out 4-3. Playing in the Football League for the first time, Luke continued to be a key player for the club throughout the following three years competing in League Two, winning the Players’ Player Of The Season accolade at the end of the 12/13 campaign.
Returning to non-league football in 2014, Luke had spells with Margate, Billericay Town and Leatherhead prior to signing with Dorking Wanderers ahead of the 17/18 season, the club’s first competing at Step 3 in the Bostik Premier Division. Making his competitive debut for Wanderers on August 12th 2017 away to Leiston, Luke, established at this stage as an all-round central midfielder, would feature regularly throughout the club’s two years in the division, which culminated in promotion to the National League South in May 2019 after winning the league by a record 22 points.
Luke’s experience and dependability were a crucial component of the squad assembled ahead of Wanderers’ first ever season at Step 2, and after again featuring regularly in the middle of the park throughout the following two fully completed seasons, it would be Luke who ultimately had the defining moment for Wanderers in the quest to reach the top tier of non-league. With virtually the last kick of the game in regulation time, trailing 1-2 to his former side Ebbsfleet United in the National League South Play-Off Final at Meadowbank, it was Luke who guided home an Alfie Rutherford knock-down from close range with just seconds remaining to force the match into extra-time – in the process scoring the most important goal in the history of the club to date, as Wanderers went on to infamously win 3-2 and secure their place in the National League Premier Division.
The opening game of that subsequent season in the National League saw Wanderers welcome Chesterfield to Meadowbank on August 6th 2022, and Luke again marked the historic occasion with a goal, scoring with a brilliantly taken first-time finish just inside the box to earn Wanderers a 2-2 draw and their first ever point on the board at the new level.
Playing regularly throughout the two National League seasons, Luke’s game time over the past couple of years back in the National League South has unfortunately been disrupted by injuries, but his impact when in the team has still been clear for all to see, demonstrated especially in the earlier stages of the current campaign where his vast experience, professionalism, communication on the field and versatility as a player, which has included deputising in his previous forward role on a number of occasions, has continued to keep the trademark Wanderers battling spirit alive, in a squad which has welcomed a number of new faces in recent times, but still includes players who have shared this remarkable journey in red and white with ‘Mooro’ from the Bostik Premier League – Niall McManus, James McShane and Jason Prior.
Bringing the curtain down on his football playing career following a 9-year spell with Wanderers, Manager Marc White adds the following:
“Mooro is irreplaceable at the club – he has shown incredible loyalty during his time here. He is a rare, old-breed of player who is able to play the game, organise his teammates and control the referee. That is why we always played him in the big games. We would never have been as successful as we have been without Mooro, and I am absolutely devastated that we are not going to see him on a day-to-day basis anymore, but I know he and his family will visit from time to time.
Sometimes fans need to stop and consider what it must feel like to stop doing something you have done since you were seven years old. I would like to think we can all appreciate that this has been a difficult decision for Luke, and he is closing the chapter on 30 years of playing football. We are very privileged that he has been such an iconic member of our club. He will be a Wanderers legend for life, and he will always be the man who scored that goal.”
Everyone at Dorking Wanderers sincerely thanks Mooro for all his efforts throughout his 9 years with the club. We hope as many supporters as possible can join us at Meadowbank for this Wednesday’s play-off eliminator against Maidenhead United, where there will be a special presentation to Mooro, and fellow legend Niall McManus, prior to kick-off.
Get your tickets via https://dwfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/playoff/social