Tom Hopper (footballer)

Thomas Edward Hopper (born 14 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Lincoln City.

Tom Hopper
Personal information
Full name Thomas Edward Hopper[1]
Date of birth (1993-12-14) 14 December 1993[2]
Place of birth Boston, England[3]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Lincoln City
Number 11
Youth career
2006–2010 Boston United
2010–2011 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Leicester City 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Bury (loan) 22 (3)
2015 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 12 (4)
2015–2018 Scunthorpe United 103 (20)
2018–2020 Southend United 28 (9)
2020– Lincoln City 8 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:48, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Tom Hopper began his career with Boston United. Hopper became Boston's youngest ever player, when aged 15 he came on as a substitute for goalscorer Spencer Weir-Daley for the final 13 minutes of a 2–1 Challenge Cup victory over Hucknall Town.[4] In the summer of 2010, Hopper signed for Leicester City and immediately began impressing in the club's youth teams.

Leicester City

Hopper signed his first professional contract with Leicester City in October 2011.[5] On 28 January 2012, Hopper was allocated the number 37 shirt and named on the substitutes bench for Leicester's FA Cup match against Swindon Town. He made his début as an 81st-minute substitute for David Nugent. Leicester won the match 2–0.[6] Hopper said of his debut that "It all seems like a blur, but something I have really enjoyed".[7]

Manager Nigel Pearson was said to be impressed by the youngster.[8] In May 2012, he was named as Leicester City's Academy Player of the Season.[9] Hopper was given the 21 number for the 2012–13 season.[10] On 14 September, Hopper joined Bury on a one-month loan deal.[11] Hopper scored twice in his first six games during a month-long loan spell at Bury, including his first ever professional league goal against Stevenage[12] and Crawley Town.[13] On 16 October Hopper extended his loan at Bury until 3 January 2013, which was then extended for the remaineder of the 2012–13 season on 4 January 2013.[14] Hopper's loan spell was cut short and he was sent back to Leicester on 7 February 2013.[15]

Hopper finished the season with Leicester City Development Squad & Academy, helping them to win the 2012–13 Professional Development League 2 and the HKFC International Soccer Sevens cup tournament.[16][17] Hopper was allocated the number 20 shirt at the beginning of the 2013–14 season[18] and was named as an unused substitute in Leicester's 2–1 Football League Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers on 6 August. He made his first appearance of the season in the next round of the League Cup, replacing Chris Wood in the 66th minute of a 5–2 win at Carlisle United.[19] On 30 May 2014, Hopper signed a new two-year deal.[20]

Hopper was an unused substitute in Leicester's first two Premier League fixtures, against Everton and Chelsea in August 2014.

Scunthorpe United

On 8 January 2015, Hopper joined League One outfit Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan.[21] Hopper made his debut on 10 January 2015, scoring in the 4–1 victory against Walsall.[22] After scoring 4 goals in 4 games, Hopper's loan was extended until the end on the season on 2 February 2015.[23] Hopper was nominated for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for January, missing out to Dele Alli of MK Dons.[24] After his Leicester contract was terminated, he joined Scunthorpe on a permanent basis on 26 June 2015.[25]

Southend United

Hopper signed for Southend United on 15 June 2018 on a three-year deal.[26] He scored on his debut in a 3–2 defeat to Doncaster Rovers.[27]

Lincoln City

Hopper signed for Lincoln City on 23 January 2020 for an undisclosed fee, on a contract running until 2023.[28]

Personal life

In May 2015, Hopper and teammates James Pearson and Adam Smith made a sex tape with local women on Leicester's tour of Thailand, which was obtained by the Sunday Mirror. The three players apologised for making the video, which included a racial epithet towards the women.[29] Following the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, the three players had their contracts terminated.

Career statistics
As of 26 March 2020
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City 2011–12[30] Championship 0010000010
2012–13[31] 0000000000
2013–14[32] 0000200020
2014–15[33] Premier League 0000000000
Leicester City Total 0010200030
Bury (loan) 2012–13[31] League One 223002000243
Bury Total 223002000243
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2014–15[33] League One 124000000124
Scunthorpe loan total 124000000124
Scunthorpe United 2015–16[34] League One 34800101[lower-alpha 1]0368
2016–17[35] 31511104[lower-alpha 1]0376
2017–18[36] 38730104[lower-alpha 2]2469
Scunthorpe United total 1032041309211923
Southend United 2018-19[37] League One 14 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 7
2019-20[38] 14 2 1 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 16 3
Southend United total 28 9 1 0 0 0 1 1 30 10
Lincoln City 2019-20[38] League One 8200000082
Career Total 17338617010319642
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. 2 appearances in Football League Trophy and 2 in League One Play Offs

References
  1. "EFL: Club list of registered players" (PDF). English Football League. 20 May 2017. p. 62. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. "Tom Hopper". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 484. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  4. "Hopper makes Boston United history". The Boston Standard. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  5. "Tom Hopper Signs Pro Contract". Leicester City F.C. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  6. "Jermaine Beckford continued his superb scoring record in the FA Cup with both goals against a plucky Swindon side". BBC Sport. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  7. "Leicester City academy striker Hopper straight back to earth – cleaning boots!". Leicester Mercury. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  8. "Academy prospect Tom Hopper making big impression with Leicester City". Leicester Mercury. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  9. "Tom Hopper's season to savour with Leicester City ends with top Foxes award". Boston Standard. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  10. "Leicester City First Team Squad Numbers Confirmed". Leicester City F.C. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  11. "Bury loan for Hopper". www.LCFC.com. Leicester City F.C. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  12. "Stevenage 2-2 Bury". BBC Sport. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. "Crawley Town 3-2 Bury". BBC Sport. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  14. "Young Pro extend loan spells". www.LCFC.co.uk. Leicester City F.C. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  15. "Hopper returns to Leicester". Bury F.C. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  16. "U21s Seal Top Spot With 3–0 Win". lcfc.com. 8 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  17. "Foxes Secure Hong Kong Sevens Crown". lcfc.com. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  18. "Leicester City announce squad numbers for 2013-14 season". Leicester Mercury. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  19. "Carlisle 2–5 Leicester". BBC Sport. 27 August 2013.
  20. "New Deal for Hopper". Leicester City FC. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  21. "Hopper Heads To Scunthorpe On Loan". Leicester City. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  22. "REPORT: WALSALL 1–4 IRON". Scunthorpe United. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  23. "Hopper Extends Scunthorpe Loan". Leicester City. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  24. "Sky Bet League 1 Player of the Month nominations". Football League. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  25. "Tom Hopper: Scunthorpe sign sacked Leicester City striker". BBC Sport. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  26. https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2018/june/hopper-is-a-blue/
  27. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989249
  28. "Imps welcome Tom Hopper". Lincoln City F.C. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  29. "Leicester City trio apologise for behaviour on Thailand tour". BBC News. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  30. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  31. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  32. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  33. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  34. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  35. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  36. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  37. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2018/19". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  38. "Games played by Tom Hopper in 2019/20". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
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