1. Start As You Mean To Go On
Signed in the summer of 2011 from Reading, Mooney scored his first goal for Orient against Bristol Rovers in a 3-2 win under lights.
It was a trademark Mooney goal, lobbing the keeper on the half-volley just on the edge of the penalty area.
It was to be the first of many well taken goals for Mooney in Orient colours, little did he know then that he had boarded a serious footballing rollercoaster ride!
2. Record Breaker
Mooney’s best season in front of goal for the O’s came in 2013/14 as he led the charge to the League One play offs as top scorer.
Not only that, but he became the first Orient player to score over 20 goals in a season since 1998 - a 16 year wait at the time.
His strike partnership with Kevin Lisbie saw the pair score 21 between them in the first three months of the season, putting the O’s in a commanding league position.
Unfortunately for Moons, he couldn’t quite get the 20th league goal that would have broken Peter Kitchen’s record, finishing with 19 in the league and 21 in all competitions.
However, he did see Macauley Bonne break that record in his second spell at the club!
3. Hitting 50 For Orient
Slotting away a penalty against Oldham in the troubled 2014/15 season brought Mooney up to a half century for the club.
Add to that his goals from last season and Moons is the O’s second highest scorer in the 21st century on 57 goals, behind only Dean Cox who has 59.
His excellent technical abilities can be seen in the video below, documenting his first 50 goals for Orient.
4. Returning To Orient In Our Darkest Hour
The return of Mooney as the first signing of the Travis-Teague Era clearly showed that the new owners wanted to bring the feel good factor back to Brisbane Road.
His appointment as club captain reflected his role in the squad as an experienced player and his reputation as an all-round good chap.
Scoring with an excellent first-touch finish in the first home game of the season against Solihull Moors, Mooney helped bring optimism back to Brisbane Road for the first time in a long time.
5. Chips Ahoy!
One of the best things about Mooney is that he isn’t just a poacher (though he has scored plenty of excellent tap-ins for Orient).
He also has that bit of magic about him, that special quality that means he can create something out of nothing.
And there was no better time for that than when he decided to score the goal of the season against Dover.
His chipped finish from the edge of the penalty box in the 93rdminute was vintage Mooney.
Looping the ball right over the keeper’s head to win the game, scoring when it looked impossible - that is the Mooney we all love.
Thanks for everything Moons, you’ll always be welcome at Brisbane Road!
To clarify, these are my personal top five moments. If you have any moments that you remember that haven't been mentioned, please feel free to comment them below. Up the O's!
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