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Gary Hooper joins 7th tier club who also have other ex-Premier League and EFL players

Gary Hooper joins 7th tier club Kettering Town who also have other ex-Premier League and EFL players within their first team squad.

An exciting time for the Poppies, currently sitting 2nd in the Southern League – Premier Central with 20 points from 10 games played.

And they’ve recently just booked a place in the FA Cup First Round proper, where they will be at League One side Northampton Town, with the cup clash to be televised.

On the 23rd of September 2024, Marvin Sordell came of retirement to join the club. Also part of their team is Dan Jezeph, Ben Hart, Lewis White, Sidik Atcha, Aaron Powell, Andi Thanoj, Luca Miller, Bruno Andrade, Tyree Wilson, Wes York, Dan Jarvis, Devon Kelly-Evans, Nile Ranger, Harlain Mbayo, Isiah Noel-Williams, Dan Emovon, Jonny Edwards, Connor Johnson and Jason Alexander.

The club said in a statement : “KTFC are excited to announce the signing of experienced forward Gary Hooper, among others he has played at Conference South and National level, the Championship, League One, Scottish Premiership (Celtic), Premiership (Norwich City) and the National League.

“Gary has previously played for Grays Athletic, Southend United, Leyton Orient (loan), Hereford United (loan), Scunthorpe United, Celtic, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand), Kerala Blaster (India), Omonia (Cyprus), Gulf United (UAE) and Barnet.

“With over 500 appearances and 200 goals throughout his career, Gary will add his valuable experience to Richard Lavery’s new look and exciting squad.

“We are delighted to see another player with undoubted quality join the Poppies and hope that Gary has an enjoyable and rewarding time at Latimer Park, welcome Gary.”

GARY HOOPER’S CAREER:

Youth career
1995–2002 – Tottenham Hotspur
2002–2003 – Maldon Town
2003 – Grays Athletic

Senior
2003–2006 – Grays Athletic – 94 games (29 goals)
2006–2008 – Southend United – 44 games (4 goals)
2007 → Leyton Orient (loan) – 4 games (2 goals)
2008 → Hereford United (loan) – 19 games (11 goals)
2008–2010 – Scunthorpe United – 95 games (50 goals)
2010–2013 – Celtic – 138 games (82 goals)
2013–2016 – Norwich City – 70 games (20 goals)
2015–2019 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 89 games (31 goals)
2019–2020 – Wellington Phoenix – 21 games (8 goals)
2019–2020 – Wellington Phoenix Reserves – 1 games (1 goal)
2020–2021 – Kerala Blasters – 18 games (5 goals)
2021–2022 – Wellington Phoenix – 15 games (5 goals)
2022–2023 – Omonia – 14 games (3 goals)
2023 – Gulf United – 4 games (2 goals)
2023–2024 – Barnet – 14 games (2 goals)

Honours

Grays Athletic
Conference South: 2004–05
FA Trophy: 2004–05, 2005–06

Hereford United
Football League Two third-place promotion: 2007–08

Scunthorpe United
Football League One play-offs: 2009
Football League Trophy runner-up: 2008–09

Celtic
Scottish Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13
Scottish Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13

Norwich City
Football League Championship play-offs: 2015

Individual
Scottish Premier League Golden Boot: 2011–12
PFA Scotland Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
Celtic top scorer: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
Scunthorpe United Greatest Ever Player: 2012
Scunthorpe United Player of the Year: 2008–09
Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: November 2011, January 2013

Nile Ranger reflects, saying ‘I’d still be playing in the Premier League if I had behaved’

Here’s how social media users reacted as Gary Hooper joins 7th tier club Kettering Town who also have other ex-Premier League and EFL players…

@jahayward_: What a signing! 🔴⚫️

@jameskilgallon8: No way… Mon the hoops

@ed0983873: buzzin but hope its not the end of ranger

@JackToulson12: Marvin Sordell, Nile Ranger, a few other lesser known non-league talents and now Gary Hooper! (One of my favourite ever Norwich strikers).. Kettering have built some side

@Seb_ElJefe: wtf is happening at my club 😂 dreamland! ❤️🖤

@up_utp: Even if Ranger is off, whilst it would be a blow it’s now not the end of the world. We have Jonny Edwards and Gary Hooper to so it won’t leave us short of quality

@SpezialSSLE4: Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!! What the hell is going on there!!!

@Dan_Lee85: This will make all the right people mad.

@jacktg01: Ranger, Sordell and Hooper is mad 🤣 could have got a few more positions

@always_a_gooner: Big statement that mate.. UTP

@matt23boss: What is going on🤣🤣 this is incredible hahahaha🔴⚫️

@c_ellis92: We’re doing bits 😮‍💨 Definitely cover for when Ranger leaves. Been in the shop window for the last few weeks now, won’t be long before he takes a chance higher up the leagues! #ktfc

@archcorbett: Gary Hooper, Nile Ranger and Marvin Sordell all now playing for the mighty Poppies Getting dangerously close to cult-hero Barclaysmen XI this 👀

Martin Jeffs: I hope we can play him and Ranger in the cup game. Ranger will be off soon unfortunately.

Dann Malloy: Good signing for yous but agree, probs passed his prime but will be good for him to share his experience on to the younger guys

Clive Fuller: He’s the only player to have scored in all of the top 6 divisions getting on a bit now though

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