Former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday star makes football return as he signs for lower league club

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He counts Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and more amongst ex-clubs.

A former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday star has signed up for a team in the lower reaches of English football.

Gary Hooper has confirmed a move to Southern League Premier Division Central side Kettering Town, having been a free agent since leaving Barnet at the end of last season. He is a favourite of the Celtic support, who he played in front of between 2010-2013, scoring an impressive 82 goals in 130 games.

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He helped the Hoops side to two league titles and two Scottish Cups. Overall in a career spanning 19 years, Hooper has turned out for 11 different sides. Five have come since 2020 from India to the United Arab Emirates, but before that, he had good spells with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City.

The 36-year-old scored 31 times for the Owls and 20 with the Canaries. Now he will hope to bang in the goals again like he did at Celtic way down the pyramid down south.

A club statement from Kettering Town reads: “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 and the National League.

“With more than 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.”

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