San Jose names Hall of Famer as GM

San Jose, Calif. (February 8, 2002) - Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment announced today that it has named Bay Area soccer legend Johnny Moore as the new general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes. Moore, 54, will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Earthquakes, including all business and team aspects of the organization, in addition to overseeing all player personnel issues. He will report directly to SVS&E. SVS&E continues to negotiate with Major League Soccer regarding an operating agreement for the Earthquakes.

Moore will travel to Florida this weekend to attend the Major League Soccer General Manager’s meetings, and then join the Earthquakes coaching and team staffs for the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, which will take place on Sunday, February 10 in Orlando, Fla.

“I’m happy to be joining such a strong organization,” said Moore. “The club is coming off a championship season, so these are very exciting times for the team. I am looking forward to contributing to the future success of the organization.”

Moore’s career in professional soccer in the Bay Area stretches back to the North American Soccer League (NASL), when he spent four seasons with the NASL Earthquakes from 1974 - 1977 as a player and administrator. In 1974, Moore, a forward/midfielder, was the first player signed by the expansion Earthquakes and he was also appointed assistant general manager. From 1974-1976, he served as a player/assistant general manager. After three years as the assistant general manager, he became the Vice President and General Manager in 1977 and helped the team set a league record for the most sellouts in a season, while still contributing on the field. He became the only person in professional sports to serve as general manager and play for the team at the same time.

At the conclusion of the 1977 season, Moore went to the Oakland Stompers, for whom he played his final season in the NASL. He then went on to play three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the Detroit Lightning, San Francisco Fog, Kansas City Comets and Phoenix Inferno, while twice being named a MISL all-star.

After concluding his career as a player, Moore, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, returned to the Earthquakes for the 1983 indoor soccer season as an assistant coach under Roger Thomson.

Moore also enjoyed a successful international career, as he was a member of the United States National Team from 1971 - 1976. He earned 12 caps for the U.S., including four appearances in World Cup Qualifying for the 1974 World Cup.

The resident of San Jose has been involved with soccer in Northern California since the 1960s and he began a 30-year career in coaching in 1969. He was one of the original coaches for youth soccer in Pleasanton, Calif. For his contributions to soccer in the United States and Northern California, Moore was inducted into the United States Soccer Hall of Fame and the California Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997, along with being inducted into the California Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in 1995.

Outside the soccer field, Moore has had a successful career as a businessman in the computer industry. He spent nine years with Apple Computer as a sales executive, and later helped successfully launch a company called Noah Software, for which he served as Vice President of Sales. For the past two years, Moore served as the Business Development Manager for Workscape Inc.

Moore currently resides in San Jose with his wife Betty. They have two grown sons, Jeff and John David.

On his return to the Professional Soccer:
It feels great to be involved again with professional soccer in the Bay Area, and it’s a particular pleasure to be a part of the San Jose Earthquakes. It’s a city and a name that holds a very special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to this team.

On the Earthquakes 2001 achievements:
The bottom line is that I’m very impressed with SVS&E, the team and its coaches. Frank Yallop has done a superb job creating a great product on the field. Now it’s my job to present that product to a market that has unparalleled potential.

On his priorities as General Manager:
My priority will be to get the business side moving as fast as possible. First and foremost, my primary concern is ticket sales. We want to make an impact with attendance in the first quarter of the season, which is something I firmly believe we can do. We want to tap the developed soccer base, as well as the corporations that have helped make the Bay Area such a strong economic power.

On Bay Area potential:
There is proven soccer interest in the Bay Area- it was strong thirty years ago, it was strong during World Cup 1994, it was strong during the Women’s World Cup in 1999 and it was strong during the Earthquakes 2001 playoffs last year. Last season’s team was the most exiting Earthquakes team in years- perhaps ever. We’ve got some great punch behind the product, and it’s time to grow and expand our fan base. Our strategy will be to hit the street as quickly as possible, and I’m confident that we can make some very positive progress.

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