Gary Hooper started off his career with Grays Athletic, In the 2005 - 06 season Gary made 16 starts and 23 appearences as a sustitute , he scored 8 goals, in 004 he picked up the plaer of the month award for November He then went to Southnend United for a trail were he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leyton Orient in a pre-season friendly, he also scored a fantasic over head kick in a 5-1 demolitin of Dagenham & Redbrige also in a pre-season friendly.Gary's biggest highlight so far in his Southend Career was he hid round of the Carling Cup against Leeds United were Gary bagged a brace Steve Hammell also scored from the spot early on, Gary made it 2-0 a minute later then mid way through the second have gary put the tie to bed scoring his second and Soutend's third which booked Southend's place in the fourth round for the first tie in the club's histort the draw saw Southend take on Manchester United at Roots Hall on November 11th a date that Southend fans will never forget, atough it was Freddy Eastwood's superb free - kick that gave Southend the victory Gary Hooper played a key role in that game the biggest game of his career to dat lining up against the likes of Wayne Rooney & Christiano Ronaldo but the youngster took it in his stride and stood up to the challenge and put in his best performence in a Southend shirt
