Moore on mission to clinch promotion in the best way

Moore was thrown on the footballing scrapheap last summer after narrowly failing to steer the Wirral club into the League One play-offs.

One year on, Moore is looking forward to a League Two play-off final on May 30 and possible promotion after the Millers secured a 3-0 aggregate victory in the semi-final against Aldershot.

Moore enjoyed a love affair spanning over three decades with Tranmere, making over 250 appearances for his hometown club as a player, working as assistant to John King, and spending three years as manager.

But his time at the club was cruelly ended last season when a late goal in the final game of the season against Scunthorpe United denied Tranmere a place in the top six.

Moore describes the breakdown of the relationship with Rovers as a 'knife through the heart' but is finding solace in the arms of his other footballing sweetheart, Rotherham United.

Reflecting on events of the last 12 months, Moore said: "We were so close to achieving this with Tranmere last season and what happened was a little bit unjust.

"People say football can be a cruel game, well that was like a knife through the heart. It is great to have the opportunity to put that right."

When the final whistle blew at the end of Wednesday night's second leg, Moore was mobbed on the Don Valley pitch as more than 7,000 supporters celebrated the club's passage to Wembley Stadium.

Although promotion to League One is far from guaranteed, it will be only the second time the Millers have played at the national stadium in the club's 140-year history.

On their previous visit, in 1996, they beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield.

"We deserve credit for getting to Wembley but we have not won anything yet," stressed Moore. "Playing at Wembley is often a once in a lifetime opportunity for some players and we have to go there and make sure we return with no regrets."

Moore, now 57, has been involved in five previous trips to Wembley but has yet to visit the new stadium, even as a supporter.

He played for Tranmere in the 1988 Football League Centenary tournament and was assistant manager as the club reached Wembley twice in the Leyland Daf Cup and twice in the Third Division play-offs in consecutive seasons, 1989-90 and 1990-91.

His greatest managerial achievement came during his first spell in charge of the Millers when he led the club to back-to-back promotions before surviving four seasons in the Championship.

And while it may still be early days in his second spell as manager, Moore is refusing to rule out a repeat of those heroics over the next few years.

"Some people say 'never go back' but I don't believe in that," said Moore. "And some say lightning doesn't strike twice but you never know. We had the opportunity to get third place and go up automatically but you can hardly say this is the booby prize.

"It isn't that long ago that one or two of our fans were shouting 'Moore out' and 'you don't know what you are doing' but that's how quickly things can change in football. I told them to keep the faith.

"If you can win at Wembley, it's the best way to go up.

"We have now been given a glimpse of what might be possible," he added. "And, if we do get the result we want at Wembley, make no mistake, the chairman will not want us aiming just for 50 points to stay in League One.

"Tony Stewart is ambitious, he has got a few bob, and he wants this club in the Championship so he will be looking to move us on again."

Moore described Wednesday as 'one of his best nights' in football and paid tribute to the supporters who set a new attendance record for the Millers at their temporary Don Valley home.

"It was absolutely fantastic," said Moore. "I have experienced that kind of atmosphere before in my early days (at Millmoor) but there was so much at stake and they got right behind us.

"We defended well and took the game to them at times. The players worked their socks off and we beat one of the best teams in the division."

The Millers will play Dagenham and Redbridge in the final – a team they have already beaten twice in the league this season.

However, Moore said: "Previous results don't come into it. Form goes out of the window and anything can happen on the day. Players are inconsistent at this level and it was unfortunate for Sammy McIlroy that his Morecambe side just didn't turn up in the first leg against Dagenham."

Tickets go on sale for Wembley final

Rotherham United have received an initial allocation of 25,000 tickets for the final and these will go on sale from noon today for season ticket holders only who are entitled to buy a maximum of six.

Tickets are only available via the Ticketmaster hotline 0844 2485010 or online at www.eticketing.co.uk/wembley02. There will be NO tickets sold at the club's ticket office at Mangham House in Rotherham.

Sales to season ticket holders will close at 10pm on Sunday and re-open on Monday at 10am for the general public who have until 5pm on May 26 to place their orders. Ticket prices range from 28 to 60 for adults and are half-price for under-16s and OAPs.