James Moore

James Moore was a real one game wonder for Ballymena in 1930 but starred in Intermediate football before being killed in action during World War Two.

Born of the Clifton area of Belfast, James’ footballing career began with Queen’s University in the late 1920’s, which led to a trial opportunity in senior football with Ballymena at the age of 20. Moore led the line for the Light Blues in an end-of-season City Cup defeat to Larne, and also scored the only goal of the game in what proved to be his only appearance for the Braidmen.

James, commonly known as ‘J.S’, was re-signed as an amateur by the Ballymena selectors for the 1930/1931 but failed to break through again into consideration and played Junior football with Belfast based club Parkend throughout most of that season. His goals in the Combination League attracted the attention of Bangor and he returned to the Irish League in August 1931.

After making his Seasiders debut in November 1931 in a 4-1 defeat by Newry Town, James worked hard to hold down a regular spot with Bangor over the next 18 months, improving as an inside forward and contributing goals despite the club’s struggles at the bottom of the table. By the start of 1933, he had moved to top Intermediate side Willowfield and was scoring goals aplenty including seven goals in his first game against Dromore Amateurs.

During the next four seasons and now in his mid-twenties, James split his allegiances with stints at both Willowfield and 49th Old Boys, but cemented his place as one of the best inside forwards in Amateur football in Northern Ireland, scoring goals and earning his place in the Amateur League’s representative team on multiple occasions.

In April 1937, he had another crack at the senior game with a trial at Cliftonville, who needed a replacement for the injured Sam Banks, ironically for a game against Ballymena United. This sparked a return to Bangor for the 1937/1938 season but it would be the final chapter of his competitive football career as he would soon enlist with the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer as the outbreak of the Second World War began.

James Moore was killed in action in August 1943 in Berlin, Germany, aged 32 and was buried in the war graves in Charlottensburg, Berlin.

Career
Queen’s University; (May 1930) Ballymena; Parkend; (Aug 1931) Bangor; (Mar 1933) Willowfield; 49th Old Boys; (Dec 1935) Willowfield; (Apr 1937) Cliftonville; (Aug 1937) Bangor

Honours
None