A former professional in his own right, Dan Moore has demonstrated remarkable resilience and dedication in his transition from the professional ranks to the non-league system as a goalkeeper. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that often accompany such a shift in career trajectory, Dan has consistently showcased his skills and passion for the game, earning a strong reputation as a reliable and talented player.
We had a conversation with Dan where he delved deeper into his career so far, discussing some of his key achievements along the way.
How did the journey as a goalkeeper begin?
At a young age, deciding to step into the role of a goalkeeper can be a daunting task. We inquired with Dan about his initial choice to put on those goalkeeper gloves, and he elaborated:
'I was the tallest in my team at u9’s, so ended up going in goal for a penalty shootout. We won, and the rest is history.'
Dan started his football journey at Bedworth United, starting at under 6's and initially playing as a outfield player. However, he transitioned to being a goalkeeper at under 9's as he told us above. His career progressed significantly when he entered the professional football realm during his scholarship period from ages 16 to 18.
The Burton Albion years
During these years, Dan worked alongside Callum Hawkins, who was also at Burton while Dan was with the club. Both were aspiring young goalkeepers aiming to secure a spot in the first team. They had the opportunity to accompany the first team on numerous occasions. When asked about his time with Dan at Burton, Callum shared his thoughts:
'Dan came in as a young raw goalkeeper from grassroots football but he developed very quickly into a solid goalkeeper, he was such a credit to be around too, always had a smile on his face and made coming in to training a pleasure every day.'
Dan had very fond memories coming through at Burton, with his greatest memory coming soon after signing with the Sky Bet League One club, Dan explained:
'Making my starting debut for Burton in a 1-0 win vs Liverpool. To go from grassroots Sunday league to being part of a team that beat Liverpool was a proud moment'
Making memories
Dan has had a lot of ups and downs in his young career, suffering a couple of injuries but he has definitively had his share of successes, a major one being his involvement in Belper Town's promotion from Step 4 to Step 3 in the footballing pyramid. A massive achievement for the club and one that Dan majorly played a part in.
Dan made a permanent comeback to Belper Town in the 2023/24 season. He enhanced his résumé by earning a spot in the Team of the Year, thanks to a series of outstanding performances that established him as one of the standout goalkeepers in that tier of English football.
We asked Dan what his aspirations were going forward into the 2024/25 season, here's what he had to say:
' (My goal is to) consistently perform for my club (Belper Town) and help us earn promotion this season.'
Why Hawk Goalkeeping?
This is a question we like to ask all of our goalkeepers as we want our goalkeepers to be a part of our family rather than just a number, heres what Dan had to say about his connection with us at Hawk Goalkeeping:
"How it is relatable to any and every goalkeeper. The brand is built around resilience and coming back from setbacks (I.e injuries) something i myself have experienced. I also enjoy that it is a personalised and individual experience being a part of the Hawk family. You are not part of a big corporation company that just wants to make as much money as possible, it’s about helping keepers reach their potential.
It is always in the core of us and our goalkeepers to help and develop other goalkeepers and Dan is the epitome of that as he has proven to be a great role model for any goalkeeper who has been handed setbacks along their journey.
We are truly thrilled for Dan as he navigates the tough landscape of professional football. His determination and passion for goalkeeping has been evident in his journey so far, and we are excited to continue supporting him as he strives to make his mark and reclaim his position in the professional game. We are confident that Dan will overcome any obstacles that come his way and emerge stronger than ever, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing his progress and success as he embarks on this next chapter of his football career.
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