Ernie Moss
Encyclopedia
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English
former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield
, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites
and cult hero number one by the club's supporters. His total of 749 league appearances puts him in the top 20 all-time list for Football League appearances.
With Chesterfield he won the Fourth Division
title in 1969–70 and 1984–85. He was also promoted out of the fourth tier with Port Vale
in 1982–83
and with Doncaster Rovers
in 1983–84. He also won the Third Division
title with Mansfield Town
in 1976–77, and finished second in the Football Conference
with Kettering Town
in 1988–89. In addition to these achievements, he was also voted Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
in 1982
. Other Football League clubs he played for include Peterborough United
, Lincoln City
, Stockport County
, Scarborough
, and Rochdale
. He also turned out for non-league sides Matlock Town
and Shepshed Charterhouse
.
He later embarked on a fifteen year career as a manager at the non-league
level of the English football pyramid, taking charge at Gainsborough Trinity
, Leek Town
, Matlock Town, Hucknall Town
, and Belper Town
. He led Gainsborough to a Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
and Peter Swales Shield
double in 1997, as well as a further Challenge Cup final appearance in 1998. He also won promotion out of the Northern Premier League First Division
with Matlock Town in 2003–04. He also worked as Peter Morris
's assistant at Boston United
and Kettering Town
.
described him as:
McGuigan worked hard to rectify this aspect of Moss' game and his hard word paid off, the youngster soon formed a deadly partnership with Kevin Randall
. McGuigan's training improved his overall abilities, though his heading skills had always been present. Moss always posed an aerial threat and scored many of his goals by towering over defenders
and directing the ball into the net. A big man, he was closer to a 'gentle giant' than a dirty player. Football historian Jeff Kent
described him as a 'wholehearted striker'.
Moss claimed that
None of his goals came from penalty kick
s. With no sense of irony he missed the only one he ever took, in his 1986 testimonial match
against Sheffield United
.
, in April 1967, from the local Tube Works side. He made his debut at Bradford Park Avenue
on 26 October 1968, signing professional forms a few days later before going on to make sixteen further appearances in the season. The club were at a low ebb, and finished 1968–69 just two points above the re-election zone in the Fourth Division
.
The "Spireties" were promoted as champions in 1969–70, winning nineteen of their 23 league games at Saltergate. Moss was a major factor in the upturn in form, scoring twenty goals in the campaign, including four past Newport County
. In 1970–71 he hit double figures by October, but was then sidelined for a period of months after rupturing his ligaments at Vetch Field
. Chesterfield were on the up though, and finished the season fifth in the Third Division
, two points off fallen giants Aston Villa
. Chesterfield dropped back down to thirteenth in 1971–72, and finished just two points above the relegation zone in 1972–73. They again finished fifth in 1973–74, ending up five points shy of promotion. The club dropped back into the lower half of the table in 1974–75. After 95 goals in 271 league games he was sold to Peterborough United
, manager Joe Shaw having found a replacement in Steve Cammack
.
Noel Cantwell
's "Posh" finished tenth in the Third Division in 1975–76, and Moss then spent the latter half of the 1976–77 season with promotion
winning Mansfield Town
, who under Peter Morris
's stewardship topped the Third Division table on 64 points. After playing for the "Stags" in their first ever season in the Second Division
, he returned to the third tier with Chesterfield in January 1979, now managed by Arthur Cox
. He helped the club to avoid relegation by just four points.
The 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons saw Chesterfield come close to promotion, missing out by one point and three points respectively. However he fell out with the club over a £5 pay rise, and in June 1981 he chose to move on to Port Vale
. The Fourth Division club splashed out £12,000 for his services and were to find the sum a good investment. In his debut season
he became the club's top scorer with seventeen goals, and picked up the Player of the Year award
at the end of the campaign. Vale won promotion from the fourth tier in 1982–83
, though Moss had been sold to Colin Murphy's Lincoln City
for £1,500 in March 1983, despite still being a regular in the first eleven. Despite his tally of 11 goals in 33 games in 1982–83, manager John McGrath claimed that 'age caught up with him'.
His time at Sincil Bank
was brief and he finished the 1983–84 season with Doncaster Rovers
, as Rovers were promoted from the Fourth Division as runners-up under the management of Billy Bremner
. In 1984 Moss signed with Chesterfield for a third time, now under the leadership of John Duncan
. He won promotion from the fourth tier for the fourth time, Chesterfield coming up as champions in his first season back at Saltergate. The 1985–86 season was one of consolidation for Chesterfield, and his goals helped greatly. The Saltergate faithful were therefore taken by surprise when he was sold to Fourth Division Stockport County
in December 1986, along with Phil Brown
, for a combined fee of £10,000. County finished in mid-table, and Moss left at the end of the 1986–87 campaign. He was with Conference
champions Scarborough
for their first season in the Football League under Neil Warnock
. He also had a short spell with strugglers Rochdale
, scoring twice in ten games for Eddie Gray's side, before his career in the Football League
came to an end.
Refusing to hang up his boots, he went on to play for Kettering Town
of the Football Conference
, and hit seventeen goals in 1988–89, making him the club's top-scorer at the age of forty. His goals helped Kettering to finish the season as runners-up, eight points behind Maidstone United
. He later played for Matlock Town
and Shepshed Charterhouse
, before he retired in his second spell with Kettering, in 1992.
at Boston United
. The "Pligrims" were relegated out of the Football Conference
in 1992–93, and spent 1993–94 in the Northern Premier League
.
He was appointed manager of Gainsborough Trinity
in 1995. He led Trinity to a fifth place finish in the Northern Premier League in 1995–96, three points behind champions Bamber Bridge
. His team finished tenth in 1996–97 but did a cup double, beating Boston United in the final of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
, and lifting the Peter Swales Shield
after victory over league champions Leek Town
. Trinity finished fifth again in 1997–98, and lost out to Altrincham
in the final of the Challenge Cup.
In June 1998 he took charge at Conference outfit Leek Town, though was dismissed the following year after Leek were relegated, finishing nine points below the safety of Welling United
. He was back in charge at Gainsborough by November 1999, replacing Steve Richards
. He led the club to another tenth place finish in 1999–2000. In 2000 he was appointed assistant manager of Kettering Town
under Peter Morris, though the pair were sacked in February 2001, with the club bottom of the Conference.
He took the reigns at Northern Premier League First Division
club Matlock Town
in 2001, and took the club to a fourteenth place finish in 2001–02. He took the "Gladiators" to eighth place in 2002–03, finishing three points off the play-offs. Promotion was achieved in 2003–04, as a second place finish was enough to take the club in the Premier Division. He was appointed manager at Conference North
club Hucknall Town
in 2004, but lost his job after just three months.
He returned to the Northern Premier League First Division in January 2005, when he was named manager of Belper Town
. Belper finished seventeenth in 2004–05
, but moved up to ninth in 2005–06, eight points off the play-offs. The "Nailers" dropped down to nineteenth in 2006–07
, and Moss was sacked.
missions. He is still very much involved in football, regularly participating in charity matches with fellow former professionals.
Off the field Moss established the Moss & Miller sports shop with former England cricketer Geoff Miller
.
with Chesterfield
with Mansfield Town
with Port Vale
with Doncaster Rovers
with Kettering Town
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with Matlock Town
|}
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites
PFA Fans' Favourites
The PFA Fans' Favourites is a list of football players produced as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the Professional Footballers' Association in 2007. There is one entry for each Football League club's favourite player...
and cult hero number one by the club's supporters. His total of 749 league appearances puts him in the top 20 all-time list for Football League appearances.
With Chesterfield he won the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
title in 1969–70 and 1984–85. He was also promoted out of the fourth tier with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in 1982–83
1982–83 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1982–83 season was Port Vale's seventy-first season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points , which saw them win promotion in third place...
and with Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in 1983–84. He also won the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
title with Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in 1976–77, and finished second in the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
with Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
in 1988–89. In addition to these achievements, he was also voted Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
in 1982
1981–82 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1981–82 season was Port Vale's seventieth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led his team to a seventh place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss and midfielder Mark...
. Other Football League clubs he played for include Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
, and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. He also turned out for non-league sides Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
and Shepshed Charterhouse
Shepshed Dynamo F.C.
Shepshed Dynamo F.C. is a football team based in the small town of Shepshed in the North West of Leicestershire, England.Their home ground is called The Dovecote, which is situated on Butthole Lane. Football has been played on this ground for over 100 years...
.
He later embarked on a fifteen year career as a manager at the non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
level of the English football pyramid, taking charge at Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
, Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
, Matlock Town, Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
, and Belper Town
Belper Town F.C.
-History:They were established in 1883 and joined the Midland League in 1961. After the 1981–82 season, Belper Town joined the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, winning the title in 1984–85...
. He led Gainsborough to a Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
and Peter Swales Shield
Peter Swales Shield
The Peter Swales Shield is an annual one-off game organised by the Northern Premier League. It is named in memory of Peter Swales....
double in 1997, as well as a further Challenge Cup final appearance in 1998. He also won promotion out of the Northern Premier League First Division
Northern Premier League First Division
The Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
with Matlock Town in 2003–04. He also worked as Peter Morris
Peter Morris (footballer)
Peter Morris is an English former professional footballer and manager. During his career he made over 300 appearances for Mansfield Town and over 200 for Ipswich Town. His one goal for Norwich was an outrageous fluke from 35 yards against title-chasing QPR on 17 April 1976, a date that will live...
's assistant at Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
and Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
.
Playing style
When Moss was just starting his career, Chesterfield manager Jimmy McGuiganJimmy McGuigan
James "Jimmy" McGuigan was a Scottish professional football player and manager.-Playing career:McGuigan, who played as a wing half, played junior football with Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, before turning professional in 1946 with Hamilton Academical...
described him as:
"A big, willing bloke, a charming fellow who had raw potential. His balance was nil, therefore his ball control was nil. He knew where the goal lay but he couldn't often hit it."
McGuigan worked hard to rectify this aspect of Moss' game and his hard word paid off, the youngster soon formed a deadly partnership with Kevin Randall
Kevin Randall
Kevin Randall is a former footballer and manager and currently chief scout at Queens Park Rangers.-Managerial record:-External links:*...
. McGuigan's training improved his overall abilities, though his heading skills had always been present. Moss always posed an aerial threat and scored many of his goals by towering over defenders
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and directing the ball into the net. A big man, he was closer to a 'gentle giant' than a dirty player. Football historian Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent (author)
Jeffrey John William Kent is an English academic and musician, as well as most notably an author and historian.-Early life and education:...
described him as a 'wholehearted striker'.
Moss claimed that
"For me competing was all about the pride and dignity of honest endeavour, - and winning wasn't all about riches and rewards, it was about preserving ones sporting integrity, it was about honour."
None of his goals came from penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s. With no sense of irony he missed the only one he ever took, in his 1986 testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
Playing career
Moss worked as a clerk in the Derbyshire County Council education offices at Matlock at the time of his joining his hometown club ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, in April 1967, from the local Tube Works side. He made his debut at Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
on 26 October 1968, signing professional forms a few days later before going on to make sixteen further appearances in the season. The club were at a low ebb, and finished 1968–69 just two points above the re-election zone in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
.
The "Spireties" were promoted as champions in 1969–70, winning nineteen of their 23 league games at Saltergate. Moss was a major factor in the upturn in form, scoring twenty goals in the campaign, including four past Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. In 1970–71 he hit double figures by October, but was then sidelined for a period of months after rupturing his ligaments at Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
. Chesterfield were on the up though, and finished the season fifth in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, two points off fallen giants Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. Chesterfield dropped back down to thirteenth in 1971–72, and finished just two points above the relegation zone in 1972–73. They again finished fifth in 1973–74, ending up five points shy of promotion. The club dropped back into the lower half of the table in 1974–75. After 95 goals in 271 league games he was sold to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, manager Joe Shaw having found a replacement in Steve Cammack
Steve Cammack
Stephen Richard Cammack is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Cammack played for Sheffield United, Chesterfield, Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City before he head back to Scunthorpe. He was loaned out to Port Vale in December 1985, but returned to his club the next month after failing...
.
Noel Cantwell
Noel Cantwell
Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...
's "Posh" finished tenth in the Third Division in 1975–76, and Moss then spent the latter half of the 1976–77 season with promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
winning Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, who under Peter Morris
Peter Morris (footballer)
Peter Morris is an English former professional footballer and manager. During his career he made over 300 appearances for Mansfield Town and over 200 for Ipswich Town. His one goal for Norwich was an outrageous fluke from 35 yards against title-chasing QPR on 17 April 1976, a date that will live...
's stewardship topped the Third Division table on 64 points. After playing for the "Stags" in their first ever season in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, he returned to the third tier with Chesterfield in January 1979, now managed by Arthur Cox
Arthur Cox (footballer)
Arthur Cox is a former English football manager.Cox has managed a number of clubs including Chesterfield, Newcastle United, where he won promotion to the First Division and introduced future international players such as Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle...
. He helped the club to avoid relegation by just four points.
The 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons saw Chesterfield come close to promotion, missing out by one point and three points respectively. However he fell out with the club over a £5 pay rise, and in June 1981 he chose to move on to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. The Fourth Division club splashed out £12,000 for his services and were to find the sum a good investment. In his debut season
1981–82 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1981–82 season was Port Vale's seventieth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led his team to a seventh place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss and midfielder Mark...
he became the club's top scorer with seventeen goals, and picked up the Player of the Year award
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
at the end of the campaign. Vale won promotion from the fourth tier in 1982–83
1982–83 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1982–83 season was Port Vale's seventy-first season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points , which saw them win promotion in third place...
, though Moss had been sold to Colin Murphy's Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
for £1,500 in March 1983, despite still being a regular in the first eleven. Despite his tally of 11 goals in 33 games in 1982–83, manager John McGrath claimed that 'age caught up with him'.
His time at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
was brief and he finished the 1983–84 season with Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, as Rovers were promoted from the Fourth Division as runners-up under the management of Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
. In 1984 Moss signed with Chesterfield for a third time, now under the leadership of John Duncan
John Duncan (footballer)
John Pearson Duncan is a Scottish footballer and football manager.-Playing career:He played as a centre-forward for Dundee, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Scunthorpe United and the Scottish Football League....
. He won promotion from the fourth tier for the fourth time, Chesterfield coming up as champions in his first season back at Saltergate. The 1985–86 season was one of consolidation for Chesterfield, and his goals helped greatly. The Saltergate faithful were therefore taken by surprise when he was sold to Fourth Division Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in December 1986, along with Phil Brown
Phil Brown (footballer born 1966)
Philip James "Phil" Brown is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Chesterfield, Stockport County, and Lincoln City...
, for a combined fee of £10,000. County finished in mid-table, and Moss left at the end of the 1986–87 campaign. He was with Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
champions Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
for their first season in the Football League under Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
. He also had a short spell with strugglers Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, scoring twice in ten games for Eddie Gray's side, before his career in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
came to an end.
Refusing to hang up his boots, he went on to play for Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
of the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, and hit seventeen goals in 1988–89, making him the club's top-scorer at the age of forty. His goals helped Kettering to finish the season as runners-up, eight points behind Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
. He later played for Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
and Shepshed Charterhouse
Shepshed Dynamo F.C.
Shepshed Dynamo F.C. is a football team based in the small town of Shepshed in the North West of Leicestershire, England.Their home ground is called The Dovecote, which is situated on Butthole Lane. Football has been played on this ground for over 100 years...
, before he retired in his second spell with Kettering, in 1992.
Management career
Also a well travelled non-league manager, he spent 1992 to 1994 as assistant manager to Peter MorrisPeter Morris (footballer)
Peter Morris is an English former professional footballer and manager. During his career he made over 300 appearances for Mansfield Town and over 200 for Ipswich Town. His one goal for Norwich was an outrageous fluke from 35 yards against title-chasing QPR on 17 April 1976, a date that will live...
at Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
. The "Pligrims" were relegated out of the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in 1992–93, and spent 1993–94 in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
.
He was appointed manager of Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in 1995. He led Trinity to a fifth place finish in the Northern Premier League in 1995–96, three points behind champions Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge F.C.
Bamber Bridge F.C. are an English football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play their home games at the QED Stadium in Bamber Bridge...
. His team finished tenth in 1996–97 but did a cup double, beating Boston United in the final of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
, and lifting the Peter Swales Shield
Peter Swales Shield
The Peter Swales Shield is an annual one-off game organised by the Northern Premier League. It is named in memory of Peter Swales....
after victory over league champions Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
. Trinity finished fifth again in 1997–98, and lost out to Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in the final of the Challenge Cup.
In June 1998 he took charge at Conference outfit Leek Town, though was dismissed the following year after Leek were relegated, finishing nine points below the safety of Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
. He was back in charge at Gainsborough by November 1999, replacing Steve Richards
Steve Richards (footballer)
Steve Richards is a former Scottish professional footballer.In August 1998 he succeeded Ernie Moss as manager of Gainsborough Trinity...
. He led the club to another tenth place finish in 1999–2000. In 2000 he was appointed assistant manager of Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
under Peter Morris, though the pair were sacked in February 2001, with the club bottom of the Conference.
He took the reigns at Northern Premier League First Division
Northern Premier League First Division
The Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
club Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
in 2001, and took the club to a fourteenth place finish in 2001–02. He took the "Gladiators" to eighth place in 2002–03, finishing three points off the play-offs. Promotion was achieved in 2003–04, as a second place finish was enough to take the club in the Premier Division. He was appointed manager at Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
club Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
in 2004, but lost his job after just three months.
He returned to the Northern Premier League First Division in January 2005, when he was named manager of Belper Town
Belper Town F.C.
-History:They were established in 1883 and joined the Midland League in 1961. After the 1981–82 season, Belper Town joined the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, winning the title in 1984–85...
. Belper finished seventeenth in 2004–05
2004–05 Northern Premier League
The 2004–05 Northern Premier League season was the 37th in the history of the Northern Premier League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First...
, but moved up to ninth in 2005–06, eight points off the play-offs. The "Nailers" dropped down to nineteenth in 2006–07
2006–07 Northern Premier League
The 2006-07 Northern Premier League season was the 39th in the history of the Northern Premier League, a football competition in England. Teams were divided into two divisions; the Premier and the First...
, and Moss was sacked.
Post-retirement
Moss coached youngsters at Chesterfield's community scheme and performed scoutingScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
missions. He is still very much involved in football, regularly participating in charity matches with fellow former professionals.
Off the field Moss established the Moss & Miller sports shop with former England cricketer Geoff Miller
Geoff Miller
Geoffrey Miller is an English former cricketer, who played in thirty four Tests and twenty five ODIs for England from 1976 to 1984...
.
Personal life
He married wife Jenny, a nurse, 1971. They had two daughters; Nikki born in December 1974, and Sarah, in May 1977.As a player
Individual- Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 19821981–82 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1981–82 season was Port Vale's seventieth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led his team to a seventh place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss and midfielder Mark...
with Chesterfield
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
champion: 1969–70 & 1984–85 - PFA Fans' FavouritesPFA Fans' FavouritesThe PFA Fans' Favourites is a list of football players produced as part of the celebrations of the centenary of the Professional Footballers' Association in 2007. There is one entry for each Football League club's favourite player...
with Mansfield Town
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
champion: 1976–77
with Port Vale
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
third place promotion: 1982–831982–83 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1982–83 season was Port Vale's seventy-first season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points , which saw them win promotion in third place...
with Doncaster Rovers
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
runner-up: 1983–84
with Kettering Town
- Football ConferenceFootball ConferenceThe Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
runner-up: 1988–89
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As a manager
with Gainsborough Trinity- Northern Premier League Challenge CupNorthern Premier League Challenge CupThe Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
winner: 1997 - Peter Swales ShieldPeter Swales ShieldThe Peter Swales Shield is an annual one-off game organised by the Northern Premier League. It is named in memory of Peter Swales....
winner: 1997 - Northern Premier League Challenge CupNorthern Premier League Challenge CupThe Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....
runner-up: 1998
with Matlock Town
- Northern Premier League First DivisionNorthern Premier League First DivisionThe Northern Premier League First Division was a football league covering the north of England. After the creation of Conference North/South in the 2004-05 season it sat at level 8 of the English football league system....
runner-up: 2003–04
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