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Barnsley: Darren Moore interview
Darren Moore is fast approaching his 630th game and nearing the end of his 18th season as a professional.
April 22 will mark the big man's 36th birthday but under no circumstances is he nearing the end, the centre-back stressing life at the Tykes is better than ever.
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Moore has already clocked up nearly 70 Barnsley appearances since his switch from Derby County in July 2008.
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Signed as a 34-year-old by then boss Simon Davey, Moore was the
Welshman's rock at the back and little has changed despite the defender's advancing years and a change of management in the Reds dugout.
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Moore has remained very much a first-team starter under new boss Mark Robins, the 6ft 3in ace proving a key cog in Barnsley's ascension into the Championship's top half.
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And while another birthday is nearing – with Moore's contract up at the end of the year – in no way does the tough tackler feel his powers are starting to wane.
"I feel really, really good, really fine, strong and I am just enjoying the game," Moore told Yorkshire Sport. "I am enjoying the challenges that I am facing week in, week out and I still very much enjoy training and very much enjoy coming in.
"I still get excited for games on a Saturday or a Tuesday or whatever, and while ever there is that fire and hunger in my belly then you carry on.
"All I really want to do is help Barnsley Football Club to a successful season and I just keep trying to give 100 per cent. That's all I've ever done at my previous clubs and that's what I'm doing here.
"It's great to be here at Barnsley, it really is and so I'll just keep going.
"I turn 36 in April but I feel fine, I feel strong and I just hope to keep going."
Birmingham-born Moore has played under countless managers since beginning his professional career with Torquay in 1990 following an initial trial with Walsall the previous year.
After three years at Plainmoor, dedicated spells at Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City, Portsmouth, West Brom and Derby all followed.
However, rarely has the tall ace been as impressed with a young manager as he has been with Robins who is changing the fortunes of the Tykes fast.
Moore – who is a Jamaican international through parentage – admits the former Rotherham boss is a manager going places, and a manager who is also teaching an old dog new tricks.
"The gaffer has come in and done great things at the football club," said Moore. "And the biggest thing for the gaffer is the way he is slowly but surely changing the mentality of the football club, right the way through.
"That's the main thing really with the gaffer and bless him for doing that. He has been really, really good.
"As a manager, he obviously has ambitions but we at Barnsley Football Club have got to take that ambition on and slowly but surely he is bringing the right things to th football club.
"Certainly, since he has come in he has taken Barnsley in the right direction and it's great as a player to be part of that.
"He has come in and done brilliantly, and we are all trying to pick up on the ideas he is bringing to the club and what he is trying to bring to the football pitch.
"We are all learning and even in football at the grand old age I'm at, I'm still learning, we're all learning, and I'm sure the gaffer is still learning from a manager's point of view.
"While ever that is happening it is great to be at the club."
The Tykes are now being talked of as outside play-off hopefuls but the man nicknamed Big Dave and Mr T is stressing only fools would get carried away.
"What I will say is that the squad has got talent but what we're looking at now is getting that consistency," he said.
"That's what we need and that's the biggest thing for the squad.
"As much as there's a lot of excitement around the club, saying the club's in the top half and all that, in order to stay in that top half for the last quarter of the season we need to show consistency on a regular basis.
"There is no time to gloat and one minute you can look and say 'yeah, we've got a great result' but then you can be on the back of a hiding.
"Everyone was gloating about Nottingham Forest going unbeaten in 18 but then Derby come and they win against them – I know it was a local derby but such is this league, it's all much of a muchness. You take your eye off the ball and you get beat.
"As long as you just look at your next game you have got a good chance of putting a run together and I think the main thing for Barnsley Football Club is just to keep going each game – it's the old cliche of one game at a time.
"That's what it is and I think the biggest challenge ourselves as players is to show some consistency."
Moore himself remains a model of consistency at the back.
And while at present Barnsley's commanding defender will be a free
agent in the summer, he feels he has more to offer at Oakwell in 2010-11.
"It's up in the summer but there's a year's option on my contract," said Moore. "Hopefully, I'd like to think we can sit down at the end of the season and I would welcome staying here, extending my contract and continuing to play for this great club.
"I really am enjoying my time up here and I want to extend it and carry on, but obviously I am aware that anything can happen.
"Hopefully, I can sit down with the club and extend it further and keep the relationship going."
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