Finley Hooper kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday evening, marking a major milestone ten years after joining the club as an eight‑year‑old.
Hooper’s journey into goalkeeping began by chance, as he originally started as an outfield player for Rayleigh.
At the age of six, he attended a Southend United meet‑and‑greet where he eagerly queued to meet his favourite Shrimper, then‑Blues keeper Dan Bentley.
Success - Finley Hooper kept a clean sheet on his U21s debut (Image: West Ham United)
Shortly after, at a Southend try-out session, Hooper went in goal and not even a year later he was scouted for West Ham.
Hooper said: "I played outfield at the time, just enjoying myself with a few of my mates.
"I started playing as a goalkeeper out of sheer coincidence.
"At a Southend United player meet-and-greet, I wanted to meet my favourite player, ‘keeper Dan Bentley, who now plays for Wolves.
Career - Hooper playing outfield as a young kid (Image: West Ham United)
"At a Southend try-out session, I went in goal and that was it, not even a year later I was scouted for West Ham."
"When I look back at it from where I am now, my little brain would never have comprehended the fact I’d be a professional goalkeeper at West Ham United."
More than a decade later, Hooper’s consistency and composure earned him his first professional contract in September 2025.
Incredible - Hooper signed his first professional contract in September 2025 (Image: West Ham United)
One highlight came in December, when he produced three penalty saves during a dramatic FA Youth Cup shootout at Preston.
His U21s bow this week marks the latest step in a journey shaped by setbacks as well as triumphs.
As a Southend U9s player, Hooper once considered giving up goalkeeping entirely after suffering a heavy defeat to a strong West Ham youth side.
Scouted - Hooper signed for West Ham as an eight-year-old (Image: West Ham United)
Instead, the Hammers saw potential and signed him soon after, alongside teammates he still plays with today.
Hooper added: "There’s just no feeling like it.
"Knowing that all the hard work and dedication and everything you might have missed before was worth it.
"It’s that feeling of ‘I’ve finally got what I've been dreaming of since I was seven."
Trophy - Hooper winning an U10s tournament (Image: West Ham United)