Bromley sign JJ Hooper on loan: He’s a Bromley boy and I think the pull of bringing him home helped with getting it across the line

BROMLEY manager Neil Smith has unveiled the loan signing of Grimsby Town striker Jonathan James (JJ) Hooper.

The 25-year-old Greenwich born forward has arrived at Hayes Lane on an initial months loan from the Sky Bet League Two club.

Hooper began his career in the ranks of local sides Sevenoaks Town and even Hayes Lane tenants Cray Wanderers, before making the move to Newcastle United.

After spending time at Workington and Darlington on loan, Hooper joined Northampton Town, from where he embarked on loan stints at Alfreton Town and Farnborough, where he scored against Bromley back in the 2013-14 season.

After leaving Northampton, he made the step back into non-league football, linking up with Lee Bradbury at Havant & Waterlooville. After a successful season, which saw him score 14 goals in all competitions, Hooper was on the radar of Football League clubs and signed for League One outfit Port Vale. He scored his first League One goal for The Valiants in a 3-1 defeat to Millwall at The Den.

After briefly returning to Northampton Town on loan, Hooper left Vale for Grimsby Town in 2017, where he has spent the past season, as well as the beginning of this campaign.

Upon getting his man, Smith told www.bromleyfc.co.uk: “We’ve been speaking to JJ a lot over the past week. There were a few other clubs interested in him, but he’s a Bromley boy, and I think the pull of bringing him home helped with getting it across the line. We’re hoping that he comes into the side and makes a flying start, and scoring some goals!”

Hooper added: “It’s good to finally get the deal done, and I can’t wait to start playing. I live ten minutes away, so it’s ideal for me! It seems like there’s a great bunch of lads here too.”

Bromley’s leading goalscorer is central midfielder Frankie Sutherland, but all of his seven goals have come from the penalty spot.

Bromley are in eighteenth-place in the Vanarama National League table with 24 points from their 22 league games and Smith takes his men to seventh-placed Gateshead on Saturday (15:00).

Visit Bromley’s website: www.bromleyfc.co.uk