Harry Hooper

How much would a goal-scoring winger be worth in the modern game?

It's a question that Harry Hooper may well ponder after scoring a hatful of goals for Blues, Sunderland, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But unfortunately for the right winger he was born half a century too early having played his football in the 1950's and early 60's, although he is the first to admit that it was very different game back then.

It was always likely that Hooper would succeed having followed in the footsteps of his father, also named Harry, who captained Sheffield United in the 1936 FA Cup final.

Born in the north east village of Pittington, Hooper actually turned down the chance to sign for Sunderland at the age of 16 - although that decision was very much influenced by Harry Senior who was a trainer at West Ham United at the time.

"My father wouldn't let me sign for Sunderland because at the time he felt they weren't giving youngsters a chance," explains Hooper.

"Although there were a few clubs that wanted me after I played for Durham County Juniors against Essex in a semi-final of the All-England County Championships at Craven Cottage.

"Chelsea and Middlesbrough were also interested but I went for a trial at West Ham and I eventually signed professional terms."

It took Hooper just three months to breakthrough into the Hammers first team in a Second Division game at home to Barnsley in February 1951 when he was still only 17.

"It makes me smile when I hear people saying that players are too young now when they are 21," he laughs.

Hooper continues: "I was very lucky to be given the chance as we had two wingers who were in front of me at the time but both were injured.

"So they gave me the opportunity and I was ever so thankful for that.

"I thought I did quite well and kept my place until the first team right winger got fit again.

"After that I was in and out of the side. But I had a good start when a lot of players don't get that opportunity."

Hooper became a regular in the Hammers side midway through the 1952/53 season and went on to make 130 appearances for the Claret and Blues, scoring 44 goals.

"West Ham were always a footballing side which suited my style and I got a few goals there," he says.

"I scored my first hat-trick in a 6-1 win against Doncaster in October 1955.

"I was a goal-scoring winger - there aren't many of those around nowadays! But then football has changed a lot."

Hooper's performances at Upton Park brought him international recognition at under-23 and 'B' level.

And he also received several call-ups to the full squad as a reserve but unfortunately he never got to play due to the stiff competition for places.

"I went on a few England tours but there was a fellow playing in my position by the name of Stanley Matthews - you may have heard of him," laughs Hooper.

"They also had Tom Finney on the left - what chance did I have with those two!

"I was born too early or too late! It was a shame but that's the way it goes."

Although Hooper did represent the Football League X1 and he adds: "I was picked before Stanley and Tom for that so that's one thing I had over them!

"But it's not what I wanted. I wanted an England cap."

Returning to the domestic front, Wolves splashed out a then-record of £25,000 to sign Hooper in March 1956 but he didn't enjoy his brief spell in the Black Country despite finishing as top scorer in his first full season at the Molineux.

He didn't see eye to eye with Wolves boss Stan Cullis so when the opportunity arose to sign for Blues in December 1957, he jumped at the chance and it proved to be a good move.

"I enjoyed my time at Birmingham, they are a smashing club," says Hooper.

"My best memory was probably when we got to the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against Barcelona.

"They had played Wolves in the semi-final and hammered them at Molineux so ahead of the final all the press were saying that we would need the scoreboard from Edgbaston because there would be a lot of goals.

"But we drew 0-0 at home and lost 4-1 over there.

"It was great to get the chance to play at the Nou Camp. It was a massive place and it was much bigger than the grounds in England."

Hooper scored 42 goals in 119 games for Blues and ironically he thinks his best performance came in April 1958 against Sunderland - the club that he was to go on and join just over two years later.

That season had not been a good one to follow Blues away from home as the side suffered some real hammerings - Chelsea (5-1), Tottenham (7-1), Preston (8-0) and Wolves (5-1).

But the travelling fans' loyalty was rewarded by a 6-1 win at Sunderland's old Roker Park ground.

And it wasn't just the scoreline that made this a memorable trip for Hooper and his team mates.

He explains: "It was during the Easter period when you played three matches over four days.

"We had actually flown down to Portsmouth for a game the previous day, in fact we were the first team to fly after the Munich Disaster.

"Then straight after that game we got on the plane to travel up to Sunderland but when we arrived there was so much fog at the airport that we couldn't land - we missed the runway twice!

"It was scary - Ken Green was reading his book upside down!

"We didn't land until 1am and everyone was a little shaken but we played Sunderland the next day and I think that was the best game I played at Birmingham. I scored a goal and set up a few of the others."

Hooper returned his north east roots in September 1960 to sign on the dotted line for Sunderland and he is very glad that he did.

"It was like going home and it was nice way to end my professional career - in fact to be honest it was three of my best years," he says.

Hooper never got promoted or relegated with any of his clubs but he came close to the former in his last two seasons at Sunderland.

"For two years running we missed out on promotion on goal difference," he recalls.

"On the first occasion in 1962 we went down to Swansea needing a win and when Brian Clough scored one in the first half we looked on course for promotion.

"The Vetch Field that day was very muddy and they had a corner in the last ten minutes.

"The ball was swung across, their left half hit it and it bobbled towards the goal and nearly got stuck in the mud.

"Our full back was on the line and he miss-kicked it and it went under his legs.

"That goal cost us promotion - it was terrible!"

Hooper continues: "Then the next season it was between Chelsea or Sunderland who would get the second promotion place.

"We played each other in the last game at Roker Park but I was injured and missed the match.

"We had a big strong centre half called Charlie Hurley who they used to call 'the heed' because he could head anything - he was a big stopper.

"Chelsea had a big left half called Upton and for that game their manager Tommy Docherty stuck him up at centre forward and all he did was hit Charlie Hurley all over the place and upset our defence. They ended up beating us 1-0 at Roker Park.

"That was even more disappointing than the year before."

Overall Hooper looks back with great fondness on his time at both Blues and Sunderland.

He adds: "The noise they made at Birmingham was terrific and the Sunderland fans were worth a goal start."

Hooper, who now lives in retirement in Kettering with his wife Margaret, returned for a game at St. Andrew's a few years ago along with a few other former players on a trip organised by the club's Historical Society.

And he will never forget the ovation they received from the home fans when they walked on to the pitch at half-time.

"It was very emotional for everyone as we had never received such a great reception like we had that day - and most of those supporters wouldn't have even seen us play.

"When we got back to the stands even our wives were crying!

"It was absolutely fantastic and I will never forget it."