Barnet FC is delighted to announce the signing of former Celtic and Norwich City striker Gary Hooper.
The forward has made over 600 career appearances, scoring 253 goals. Hooper has scored in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Football League Trophy, FA Trophy, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Premier League, making him the first and only player to achieve this feat.
The English forward started his career at Grays Athletic, where he made 94 appearances and scored 29 goals. Hooper helped The Gravelmen win the Conference South and two FA Trophy’s during his time at the club before joining fellow Essex side Southend United.
Over the next four seasons, Hooper would make 112 appearances across all three levels of the Football League for Southend United, Leyton Orient, Hereford United and Scunthorpe United before moving to the Scottish Premier League to play for Celtic.
During his three-year spell with Celtic, Hooper established himself as one of the SPL greats, scoring 63 goals in 95 league games. During his three-season spell with Celtic, Hooper would win two Scottish Premier League titles and two Scottish Cups. He would also be Celtic’s top scorer in all three seasons at the club and win a SPL golden boot. Hooper was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
That success then earned him a move to Premier League side Norwich City. Hooper would score eight goals for the Canaries in the top fight of English football, but it wasn’t enough to help Norwich avoid the drop to the Championship. Gary scored 12 goals in 30 Championship appearances, including a hat-trick against Blackpool and a stoppage-time winner away at Bolton Wanderers, which ensured a play-off spot for Norwich. Hooper would feature in the 2-0 play-off final win at Wembley against Middlesbrough, which saw Norwich bounce back to the Premier League.
Hooper then moved to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, where he would score 30 goals in 82 Championship appearances and help The Owl’s qualify for two play-off campaigns.
After four seasons in Sheffield, Hooper would play his football abroad. He would play in the A-League, Indian Super League, Cypriot First Division and UAE Second Division before joining Barnet FC.
Hooper will wear the number 26 shirt for The Bees.
Welcome to Barnet, Gary Hooper!
