Sunderland’s first summer signing Simon Moore admits he is looking forward to working alongside Anthony Patterson this season – a goalkeeper he has admired for some time.

Moore signalled Sunderland’s first foray into the transfer market ahead of the 2024-25 campaign after penning an initial two-year deal at the Stadium of Light, with the club retaining the option of an additional third year for the 34-year-old goalkeeper.

Moore became a free agent this summer after his three-year spell with Coventry City came to a close and brings a wealth of experience to the club’s goalkeeping department and provides further cover for Patterson after the departure of Alex Bass.

Bass joined League Two side Notts County for an undisclosed fee in search of regular football, having spent last season on loan with AFC Wimbledon, and Moore will replace Bass as a back-up option to Patterson this season while also being able to share his knowledge and experience to the club’s understudy’s in Adam Richardson and Matt Young, with Nathan Bishop still part of the first team squad.

 

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Moore, who has a promotion on his CV from League One with Sheffield United, understands the role he has been given on Wearside and it’s one he is relishing, particularly his work with current No.1 Patterson, who he admits he has been a big fan of for a number of years having watched from afar.

 "It feels fantastic to be here - when I heard Sunderland were interested, I jumped at the opportunity. To come to such a massive football club was something I just couldn’t turn down,” said Moore.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Patto - he’s someone who I’ve watched from a distance. I’ve got a keen eye for goalkeeping and he’s one who has caught my eye over the last two or three years, he’s been absolutely fantastic and I’m really looking forward to working with him.

"I’ve been part of some very successful dressing rooms over the years, and I’d like to think I can bring some of that experience to this dressing room. It’s a very young dressing room, so I’ll bring that average age up a little bit. I’m looking forward to getting going, meeting all the lads and being able to share some of my experiences to help them and help move the club in the right direction.”

Moore added: “For myself, I’m going to come in and give it my absolute all, train hard every day and if that opportunity does arise I’ll make sure I’m ready. At the same time, I’m going to be there for Patto to help with some of the experience I’ve had over the years and if there’s anything he needs I’m going to be there because we want the best for the football club, that’s the most important thing.”

 

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As well as Coventry and Sheffield United, Moore also has experience with Bristol City, Cardiff City and Brentford to fall back on, with his last full season coming in 2021-22 where he made 42 appearances for Coventry.

Since then, Moore has been a No.2 option at the Coventry Building Society Arena, with former Sunderland youth goalkeeper Ben Wilson taking over the reins. And Wilson is someone who Moore confided in over the move to the North East.

“Even before I came here, Ben was talking about Sunderland all the time,” said Moore. “He had some fantastic memories here, he still loves the club and his family are local. He’s just told me nothing but good things and he spoke very highly about Pruds [Mark Prudhoe], who I met earlier and who seems like a top guy and is a bit of a legend here. So, I’m looking forward to bouncing off him and learning from him as well.

“It's a fresh opportunity for myself,” he added. “And to do it at a football club of this magnitude is something I’m really proud to be a part of. From the outside in, whenever I’ve played against Sunderland it’s one of the places you look forward to coming to, the atmosphere is fantastic, the fans are second to none, and I’m really happy to be part of that.

“I spoke to a few people and have heard nothing but good things. Ultimately, I just want to come here, give my all to the football club, help the lads go in the right direction and be there for them and when, and if, I do get the opportunity, then make sure I’m 100 per cent ready for it to give my all.”

Moore, like the rest of the Sunderland squad, will get the chance to impress a new head coach this pre-season with the club set to appoint Lorient’s Regis Le Bris, bringing a close to their fourth month search to find a permanent replacement for Michael Beale.