Tom Hopper (footballer)

Tom Hopper

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Edward Hopper
Date of birth	14 December 1993
Place of birth	Boston, England[1]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	Scunthorpe United
Number	22
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–	Scunthorpe United	33	(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Thomas Edward "Tom" Hopper (born 14 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scunthorpe United.

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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] Hopper said of his debut that "It all seems like a blur, but something I have really enjoyed".^[5]

Manager Nigel Pearson was said to be impressed by the youngster.^[6] In May 2012, he was named as Leicester City's Academy Player of the Season.^[7] Hopper was given the 21 number for the 2012–13 season.^[8] On 14 September, Hopper joined Bury on a one-month loan deal.^[9] 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^[10] and Crawley Town.^[11] 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.^[12] Hopper's loan spell was cut short and he was sent back to Leicester on 7 February 2013.^[13]

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.^[14][15] Hopper was allocated the number 20 shirt at the beginning of the 2013–14 season^[16] 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.^[17] On 30 May 2014, Hopper signed a new two-year deal.^[18]

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.^[19] Hopper made his debut on 10 January 2015, scoring in the 4–1 victory against Walsall.^[20] After scoring 4 goals in 4 games, Hopper's loan was extended until the end on the season on 2 February 2015.^[21] Hopper was nominated for the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award for January, missing out to Dele Alli of MK Dons.^[22] After his Leicester contract was terminated, he joined Scunthorpe on a permanent basis on 26 June 2015.^[23]

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.^[24] Following the outcome of disciplinary proceedings, the three players had their contracts terminated.

Statistics

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[25]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2011–12[26]	Leicester City	Championship	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2012–13[27]			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013–14[28]			0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0
2014–15[29]		Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leicester City Total			0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	3	0
2012–13	Bury (loan)	League One	22	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	24	3
Bury Total			22	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	24	3
2014–15	Scunthorpe United (loan)	League One	6	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4
Scunthorpe United Total			6	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4
Career Total			28	7	1	0	4	0	0	0	33	7

References

1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 484. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
2. "Hopper makes Boston United history". The Boston Standard. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
3. "Tom Hopper Signs Pro Contract". Leicester City F.C. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
4. "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.
5. "Leicester City academy striker Hopper straight back to earth – cleaning boots!". Leicester Mercury. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
6. "Academy prospect Tom Hopper making big impression with Leicester City". Leicester Mercury. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
7. "Tom Hopper's season to savour with Leicester City ends with top Foxes award". Boston Standard. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
8. "Leicester City First Team Squad Numbers Confirmed". Leicester City F.C. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
9. "Bury loan for Hopper". www.LCFC.com. Leicester City F.C. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
10. "Stevenage 2-2 Bury". BBC Sport. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
11. "Crawley Town 3-2 Bury". BBC Sport. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
12. "Young Pro extend loan spells". www.LCFC.co.uk. Leicester City F.C. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
13. "Hopper returns to Leicester". Bury F.C. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
14. "U21s Seal Top Spot With 3–0 Win". lcfc.com. 8 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
15. "Foxes Secure Hong Kong Sevens Crown". lcfc.com. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
16. "Leicester City announce squad numbers for 2013-14 season". Leicester Mercury. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
17. "Carlisle 2–5 Leicester". BBC Sport. 27 August 2013.
18. "New Deal for Hopper". Leicester City FC. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
19. "Hopper Heads To Scunthorpe On Loan". Leicester City. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
20. "REPORT: WALSALL 1–4 IRON". Scunthorpe United. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
21. "Hopper Extends Scunthorpe Loan". Leicester City. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
22. "Sky Bet League 1 Player of the Month nominations". Football League. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
23. "Tom Hopper: Scunthorpe sign sacked Leicester City striker". BBC Sport. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
24. "Leicester City trio apologise for behaviour on Thailand tour". BBC News. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
25. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
26. "Games played by in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
27. "Games played by in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
28. "Games played by in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
29. "Games played by in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

External links

• Tom Hopper career statistics at Soccerbase