Still only 17 years of age, Craig Moore travelled from the other side of the world to sign for Rangers in September 1993. Having spent two weeks on trial at Ibrox some months earlier, his mind was made up that Glasgow would be his destination. Rejecting the advances of Arsenal, he left the Australian Institute of Sport to begin a new life in Scotland. It was a brave decision for one so young but was typical of the dedication and mental toughness shown by ‘Oz’ throughout his life and career.
Unsurprisingly, homesickness was a factor in the early part of his time with Rangers but he quickly caught the eye playing for the ‘Reserves’. Physically mature and athletic for his young age, he was soon in and around the first team. His debut would come towards the end of his first season in Scotland when on 5th April 1994 he was in the starting line-up during a goalless midweek encounter with Dundee United at Tannadice.
It is fair to say that Craig’s ability, versatility and willingness to play in a number of positions both helped and hindered him during his first spell at Ibrox. He was clearly an outstanding central defender, top drawer. However, when he arrived at Rangers he was in direct competition with Richard Gough, Davie McPherson, John Brown and Oleg Kuznetsov for those places. In addition, the likes of Steven Pressley and (injured) Brian Reid were also still at the Club and aspired to play in that role. The arrival of European Cup Winner Basil Boli in the summer of 1994 only highlighted the size of the task facing the likeable Moore.
Undeterred, he was back in the starting line up for the League Cup tie with Arbroath at the beginning of season 1994/95 and even though he was more often deployed in a less favoured right back or midfield role, he was never too far from the action. His first Rangers goal came almost a year after signing, a crucial strike in a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie. Not renowned for his goal scoring prowess, he would enjoy a good record of scoring in Aberdeen which was still by far one of our toughest away fixtures (Craig scored the winner there in 1995/96 and another in a further 2-2 draw in 1996/97.) To put in context, he scored only one more goal (against Partick Thistle) in those entire 3 seasons! With Brian Laudrup inspiring the side to the Championship, Craig had secured a League medal in his first full season. He played in 21 of the matches during that campaign.
Although the squad continued to evolve, the challenge in front of him never diminished. For every McPherson or Boli that moved on there would be an incoming Petric or McLaren. Stephen Wright, Alex Cleland and Gary Bollan were also at the Club during 1995/96 and were natural full-backs and so even filling in to these less natural positions became extremely challenging. Craig’s game time reduced to 11 league appearances and 16 in total as ‘Gazza’ got us over the line for 8 in a row.
The enormity and pressure of season 1996/97 was not lost on Craig who by now was an honorary Scot within the Rangers dressing room. The Old Firm fixtures would be even more crucial that season and in the heat of the battle Manager Walter Smith would regularly turn to Craig as part of the game plan.
Rangers would defeat their rivals 4 times out of 4 in the league and Craig would play in every one. He had helped Rangers deliver the coveted 9th title and would be in the line up Tannadice on the famous night it was secured (just over 3 years after making his debut there). The League Cup had also been won in an epic 4-3 win over Hearts at Parkhead. Craig and the Rangers defence had been given a torrid afternoon by Hearts’ Neil McCann but the Cup was secured and that was all that mattered.
If 1996/97 had been the ultimate high, the following season would be a huge disappointment for the Club as a whole. Even with the departure of Walter Smith and many of his closest friends in the Summer of 1998, he opted to stay and was one of a handful of the ‘old guard’ to remain at Ibrox for the start of the Advocaat era.
Despite the return to fitness of Lorenzo Amoruso and the capture of Colin Hendry, it appeared evident very early on that the Dutchman rated Moore extremely highly. It did appear that in Barry Ferguson and Craig Moore, Advocaat had identified two ‘home grown’ players to build his star studded side around. Ironically, just as Craig was beginning to get the regular opportunity to play and excel in his true position, he opted to join his International coach Terry Venables at Crystal Palace.
The move to London did not last too long as Palace ran into financial difficulties. He was back at Ibrox before that 1998/99 campaign was out, scoring in his return match at McDiarmid Park but also sustaining a nasty injury which would end his season.
After regaining fitness in the summer, Craig would go on to establish himself as a tough tackling centre half under both Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish, eventually being made captain. Along side Amoruso he formed an excellent central partnership and in Advocaat’s second season we would secure another League and Scottish Cup. Against the odds, Champions League football was also secured with a victory over Parma and Craig would later score in the group stages against Valencia. Despite having been missing due to injury since mid-March, such was the influence he had in the team he was rushed straight back in for the 2000 Scottish Cup Final mauling of Aberdeen.
Another memorable Scottish Cup Final win followed two years later as Celtic were beaten 3-2 at Hampden with Alex McLeish now at the helm (Oz had been red carded in Alex’s first match in charge)! This was bettered in season 2002/03 as Rangers, under McLeish, secured the Treble. Craig would play 44 times that season (his best tally during his Gers career) including both Cup Final wins (over Celtic and Dundee respectively) in addition to that final day victory over Dunfermline to win the league in the most dramatic of circumstances. He would score a vital goal in the Old Firm fixture during that league championship success.
The departure of his close friend Barry Ferguson would see Craig installed as Rangers Captain for a period. His personal decision to choose Country over Club during a fixture clash would bring an end to that particular honour.
Craig’s final appearance for Rangers came 11 years after he had arrived as a teenager. It was a victory at a ground he always seemed to enjoy, Pittodrie.
During his two spells at Rangers he appeared 256 times and scored 17 goals. Craig was also fiercely patriotic and proudly represented Australia on more than 50 occasions whilst appearing at two World Cup Finals.
