Former Aston Villa striker Kelsey Mooney has signed for League Two outfit Accrington Stanley after leaving Boston United.
Stanley have moved quickly to snare Mooney, who was offered a new deal by Boston following their promotion to the National League. He announced his decision to leave the Jakemans Stadium in a social media post earlier this week, citing an opportunity that ‘doesn’t come around every day.
That opportunity is in the Football League, a level he has appeared in eight times in his career. He has certainly impressed Stanley manager John Doolan, who suggested the striker already ‘looked like a footballer.’
“He looks like a footballer straight away,” said the former Mansfield Town player. “(He) looks like a number nine, looks like a striker you can play up to, and there’s still more to come from him, and that’s what we’re going to work with.”
“We’re going to get him better from a tactical point of view, so I’m really looking forward to working with him, and I’m just so happy that we’ve got that one in. Kelsey’s his own man, his own player, but he does remind me so much of Colby Bishop. I’m not putting any pressure on Kelsey, but I can see potential there.”
He’ll be hoping to realise that potential with Stanley, who have had a torrid time of late, following relegation from League One. Long-serving manager John Coleman left the club, but there’s a hope Mooney can help bring back success, especially if he resembles Bishop, Accrington’s talisman for a few years.
“As soon as the opportunity arose, it was one of them things, it’s an easy decision, and then obviously I’ve come here and met the gaffer and everyone, and it’s just swayed me. I had to speak to Ian Culverhouse and he was brilliant with me. He was understanding that the opportunity doesn’t come around that often to go back to the Football League, so I’m delighted.”
“I’d say I’m a traditional number nine, a handful to play up against, a centre-half will know he’s been in a game, and score goals.”
The 25-year-old came through the youth ranks at Villa Park, signing his first professional deal in 2017. He enjoyed a loan spell in League Two with Cheltenham Town, scoring his first professional goal against Northampton Town at Sixfields. He was released by Villa in 2019 without appearing, impressing enough during a stint at Hereford to join League Two side Scunthorpe United.
He didn’t get another stab in the Football League, instead moving to Leamington as Scunthorpe floundered. From there, he signed for The Pilgrims, with whom he had an exceptional season, bagging 16 goals as they earned promotion via the play-offs.
Writer’s View
Accrington have had a lot of success in the past by looking in the non-league scene, and finding a bargain where others might not be looking.
Mooney has a good football pedigree, coming through the ranks at Villa, but has been in danger of slipping through the cracks. However, one great season at Boston has enabled him to once again have a stab at his dream of playing regular matches in the Football League.
Can he be a success? There’s no reason why not. His age counts for him in this instance; he’s a player who likes to knock defenders and use his size, and sometimes that’s tough for a younger man. Bigger strikers often seem to mature later, as Adebayo Akinfenwa and Matt Rhead did. While Mooney is different from those, it feels like he’s now ready physically for League Two, whereas perhaps a few years ago, he needed more senior football.
This could be a really wise acquisition on Stanley’s behalf.
Editor In Chief
