Hooper joins Bulls for a Month

Gary Hooper, a centre-forward, has joined the Bulls from Southend initially for a month.

This from the Official Southend Website:

Southend striker Gary Hooper is today going on loan to League Two side Hereford United. The Blues forward will spend the next month at Edgar Street as the Bulls continue their promotion bid.

But before he completed his move to the League Two side, Hooper put pen-to-paper on a new one-and-a-half year contract keeping him at Southend until 2009.

Hooper had been United's only fit forward in recent weeks, and scored during Southend's 4-1 win over Bournemouth ten days ago. However, following the signing of Lee Barnard and Charlie MacDonald's return to fitness boss Steve Tilson has decided to let the youngster go out on loan.

The 20-year-old former Grays forward has made 18 appearances this season for the Club, scoring twice.

The January transfer window, the deadline for signing players, closes on Thursday at midnight.

Hooper, who is 5ft 9in and around 11st, has been out on loan once before, he went to Leyton Orient late last season. He celebrated his 20th birthday last Saturday. He has played at Edgar Street before, scoring for Grays in their 2-0 Conference win in August 2005.

More from Wikipedia:

Gary Hooper (born January 26, 1988) is an English footballer currently playing as a forward for Southend United.

He began his career with then Ryman Premier side Grays Athletic, in the 2003/04 season, being named as an unused substitute in an Essex Senior Cup clash against Braintree Town whilst he was still 15 years old. His debut was the following season when Grays were promoted into the newly formed Conference South, helping them to win the league scoring 12 goals in his 29 league appearances. The following 2005/06 season in the Conference National, Hooper scored 8 times in 40 league appearances. He joined Southend United on trial in July 2006 and was rewarded with a one year contract by Southend manager Steve Tilson the following month.

Hooper made his Southend United debut as a substitute for James Lawson in the 3-1 win over AFC Bournemouth in the Carling Cup in August 2006.

In March 2007, Hooper joined Leyton Orient on loan joining former team mate Luke Guttridge at Brisbane Road, He made his debut in the 2-2 draw with Oldham Athletic scoring Leyton Orient's second goal. He continued his good form in his second game, scoring his second goal against League One's leaders Scunthorpe United in another 2-2 draw. He returned to Southend on 1st May, when the club activated a 24-hour return clause in his contract.

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