Kristy Moore has called time on a soccer career which has spanned three decades, seen her play for two countries and captained her home town W-League team in SA.

The now former Lady Reds skipper also ended her 24 season career on high claiming the prestigious club awards player’s player of the year and the club’s player prize on Monday.

“I have been considering this retirement for a long time and I have played injured (foot) pretty much the whole season,’’ Moore, 37, said.

“I haven’t been able to give 100 per cent and also with my (working) career I can start earning money.

“But I have virtually been injury free for the last 15 years and barely missed a training session and I have been very lucky with that.

“I never thought I would play back in Adelaide again and playing in front of my family again it was brilliant.

“I’ve got great aunty Rose she is 92 and she never thought she’d see me play again.

“And the other week when I scored she was crying so it was very cute.”

Moore is now aiming for a nursing career.

She qualified as a nurse in Norway while she was playing soccer on the Scandinavian peninsula from 2004 until 2012.

It was the only time in her career where her ex clubs — IF Fløya and Stabæk — were able to pay her enough money to survive.

Moore must now, however, complete a bridging course in SA in order to fully qualify as a nurse for Australian standards.

“I have made some money not like the men’s players,’’ Moore said.

“When I was in Norway I could live off of football and that’s how I managed to do my study and that was a bonus.

“But you don’t choose women’s football to become rich just like you don’t become a nurse to become rich.

“You do it for the love of the game I have travelled the world and the people I have met has been brilliant.”

Moore started playing soccer for Elizabeth Vale as a five-year-old with boys before she was identified as a SASI talent in 1991.

She played in England for Fulham and Barnet and later in the US.

She then became one of the rare few to represent two countries — Australia and England on the international stage.

But Moore at this stage in her life has no plans to remain in the game but felt compelled to support the Lady Reds next season after this year promised so much but failed to deliver.

Moore said her final season with the Lady Reds was disappointing.

“We’re still the only team to have beaten (W-League) leader Perth Glory and they’re not an easy team to beat,’’ Moore said.

“It wasn’t a fluke but at our worst it was just too bad and there was to big a gap between the best and worst.

“It probably comes down to mental strength and experience.”

BIO Kristy Moore
Age:37
Born: Adelaide, January 31, 1977
Club Career:
From 1991: SASI, Barnet, Fulham (England), IF Fløya, Stabæk (Norway), Los Angeles Strikers, Lady Reds
Internationals
1997: Matildas 7 caps, 1 goal
2002/05: England: 12 caps