Gary Hooper, an English striker of note, started his professional football journey with Grays Athletic in 2004. Despite his modest 5ft 9in frame and 11st 2lb weight, he made a solid start in the 2005 - 2006 season, netting eight goals in 38 appearances.
2006 saw Hooper moving to Southend United, and subsequently Leyton Orient on loan. His worth wasn't left unnoticed at Orient, as he managed two goals in merely four appearances. His stint at Southend United following the loan garnered mixed results.
A short loan spell at Hereford United in 2008 saw Hooper find the back of the net 11 times in 19 appearances. He was then snapped up by Scunthorpe United in the same year for £180k, where he impressed with 43 goals in 80 appearances over two seasons.
However, it was Hooper's move to Celtic in 2010 for £2.4m that etched his name in the annals of football. In a Celtic jersey, he found the back of the net an impressive 63 times in three seasons, an outstanding achievement that secured his place in the hearts of the Celtic faithful. He was sold to Norwich City in 2013 for £5.1m after a highly successful spell in Scotland.
Hooper's time at Norwich City and subsequently Sheffield Wednesday was mixed, with both successful periods and challenging times. He netted 18 goals in 64 games for Norwich and 30 in a staggering 82 appearances for Wednesday, establishing himself as a reliable goal threat.
He then ventured out of Europe in 2019 to Wellington Phoenix in Australia and had a brief spell at Kerala Blasters FC in India. Continuing to showcase his goal-scoring prowess, he netted 12 goals in 34 appearances across two stints at Wellington.
Hooper's travels took him to Cyprus and the UAE before he returned to English football with Barnet in 2023. His most recent football journey remains undisclosed, but his rich career history stands testament to his footballing prowess and commitment.
