27th January 2006: On Thursday afternoon, it was announced that West Bromwich Albion defender, Darren Moore, is to leave the club after four years at the Hawthorns to join Championship side Derby County. The consensus is that this is a good move for all concerned. Moore's first team opportunities have been limited this season and, at 31, he needs regular football. Derby boss, Phil Brown, has got a good quality defender who will give his all for his new club.

It has to be said that, with all due respect to Darren Moore, he has struggled this season against Premiership defences. Nonetheless, it is a sad day for Baggies fans. He is one of a rare breed of footballers that, in an age so dominated by money, the fans have taken into their hearts. Nick-named "Big Dave" after the character in a TV advert for Pot Noodle, he has always given 110% to the cause and has been a great ambassador for the club both on and off the field.

The Birmingham-born defender was captain of Portsmouth when Gary Megson signed him for £750,000 in September 2001. He quickly became a key figure for Albion that season at the heart of a solid defence that achieved a club record of 27 clean sheets. It was particularly fitting that he scored the first goal in the crunch final-day match against Crystal Palace, a goal that settled the side and helped them to the 2-0 win which secured promotion to the Premiership for the first time.

He was already installed as a fans' favourite thanks to his efforts on the pitch, but his status was further enhanced by his work off it. A born-again Christian, he devoted much of his spare time during the season to charity work within the local community and spent his summers travelling to help the needy around the world including walking the Great Wall of China for charity in 2005. His giant frame houses a softly-spoken big-hearted gentleman who always has time to speak with fans and sign autographs.

In Albion's first Premiership season, he was a key figure once again, and scored more important goals including the winner in the club's first win against Fulham at the Hawthorns, and another in a rare away win on Albion's last ever visit to Maine Road. His season was cut short in March when he suffered knee ligament damage in a clash with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that was to keep him out of action for nine months. He returned in the November of Albion's second promotion season, and forged an excellent partnership with Thomas Gaardsoe.

The injury may have affected his performance as he has never quite been the same player since, but he has remained a Hawthorns cult hero despite his limited appearances last season and this. It is a shame that his last game saw him sent off for the first time in his Albion career, but perhaps fitting that it was for a foul against one of his former Albion team mates.

In all, he made 116 appearances for the Baggies, scoring six times, but numbers do not illustrate the impact he made at the Hawthorns. He was a hugely important part of Albion's turnaround in the last four years, and he has been a massive figure, physically and psychologically, both on and off the pitch.

He will be sorely missed by Baggies fans and we all wish him the best of luck at his new club. Good luck, Darren, and thank you.