Footballers who have played league football for PNE & Sunderland since 1888
L-M
86) MCLATCHIE Colin (PNE signed 1897/98 9 apps 2 gls) (Sund 121 app 32 gls)
563) McNAB Jimmy (PNE signed Mar 67 224 apps 6 gls) (Sund 285 apps 13 gls)
932) MILLER Tommy (PNE signed Nov 2006 5 apps 0 gls) (Sund 36 apps 3 gls)
825) MIMMS Bobby (PNE signed Sept 96 – 27 apps 0 gls) (Sund 4 apps 0 gls)
712) MOONEY Brian (PNE signed Oct 87 128 apps 20 gls) (Sund 27 apps 1 goal)
216) MORLEY Jonathan (PNE signed 1911/12 94 apps 15 gls) (Sund 4 apps 1 goal)
843) MULLIN John (PNE signed Feb 98 7 apps 0 gls) (Sund 35 apps 4 gls)
Player Profile Brian Mooney
Brian John Mooney was born in Dublin on 2 February 1966. Mooney signed for Liverpool in August 1983 from the famous nursery club Home Farm. Although he was making some outstanding performances in the reserves and made the first of his four Republic of Ireland Under 21 appearances, he could not break into the first team as the Liverpool team of that age had Dalglish, Rush, Whelan and Craig Johnston.
Mooney went on loan to Fourth Division side Wrexham in December 1985 and had a successful spell scoring twice in nine league appearances.
Mooney never played a league game for Liverpool but did make an appearance against Fulham in the League Cup in October 1986.
Preston who had been promoted from the Fourth Division in 1986/87 were struggling in the Third Division and manager John McGrath brought Mooney in, initially on a month's loan in October 1987. Mooney made his debut for Preston on October 1987 in a 3-2 victory over Port Vale. The match saw Tony Ellis also make his debut. Mooney made an instant success and at the end of his loan spell, Liverpool agreed to sell him for £25,000. Mooney made 34 appearances during 1987/88 for Preston scoring 3 goals, his first was in a 3-0 home win against York on 2 January 1988. The following season saw Mooney make 40 appearances scoring 6 goals, including both goals in a 2-0 win over Bristol City on 28 January 1989. Preston reached the play-offs but were defeated by Port Vale in the Semi-Final.
The 1989/90 season saw Mooney only miss one match and reached double figures in the goals column, including an hat-trick in a 5-0 victory over Chester on 23 September 1989.
His undoubted natural ability was attracting the attention of many top flight clubs and was even being considered by Jack Charlton for the Republic of Ireland team.
Although he didn't achieve a Republic of Ireland cap he did earn a move to a top flight club in Sunderland for a fee of £225,000 in February 1991. Mooney's final appearance in a white shirt was to score a brace in a 4-1 victory at Scunthorpe in the Leyland Daf Cup on 29 January. Mooney had scored 20 goals in 128 appearances for PNE.
Unfortunately Mooney's move to Sunderland was a disaster. The club was relegated from the top tier and watched from the sidelines as Sunderland reached the FA Cup Final in 1992. Mooney was sent on loan to Burnley in September 1992, to allow him to play competitive games although he was against the move, Mooney stayed for a month and made 6 appearances including a local derby against Preston. He did force his way back into the team but in two injury ravaged seasons at Sunderland, Mooney only made 27 appearances scoring 1 goal.
Mooney was released at the end of his contract and although there was interest by several English clubs he decided to return to Ireland. Mooney played part time for Shelbourne FC and Bohemian FC winning both league and cup honours as well as for University College Dublin FC where he was studying for a degree. His return to Ireland did allow him to appear in the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup and play for the Football League of Ireland Representative Team.