IN THE END it wasn’t to be a glorious first Wembley appearance for Harlow-born footballer Gary Hooper, but if there were teams out there who hadn’t heard of the young striker before Sunday, they certainly have now.

True to form, Hooper was not fazed by the occasion, despite the presence of more than 55,000 fans at the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

And while he returned home without a winner’s medal, he will take with him the memory of a stunning goal that sparked a contest between two modest sides into life.

As the cheer from the 17,000 Scunthorpe United supporters went up, the furious dialling on mobile phones from watching scouts to their managers was almost audible. Hooper’s team went into the clash with Luton Town as heavy favourites, sitting 42 places above their opponents in league terms. But it was the side sitting bottom of the Football League that were walking the famous steps to receive their trophy, after 120 minutes of pulsating football.

It was a different story early on, however, as it was the Iron’s heavy artillery up front that did the damage.

Dubbed the ‘H bombs’, Hooper and strike partner Paul Hayes have combined for 45 goals in total this season. And they linked up once again to great effect 14 minutes into Sunday’s final.

Hayes flicked on a long ball upfield, which created the chance for Hooper to do what he does best.

The 21-year-old drove at the Luton defence, and after shifting the ball onto his favoured right foot, he unleashed a fierce low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, with Hatters’ keeper Dean Brill left rooted to the spot.

“I always back myself in those situations,” Hooper reflected afterwards. “I managed to get the defender one-on-one, got him off balance and managed to get a good shot off. It was great to score.”

Hooper’s goal ensured it was a much happier journey home for many of his friends and family, who had backed the forward to score the first goal on the day.

It was a less satisfying trip for Hooper’s father Gary, though.

“I had a bet on him to score a hat-trick! About 30 of our friends all won loads of money on him scoring first, but I didn’t put that on,” said Hooper Senior. “He scored a great goal, though. I was really pleased with him, he looked confident and wasn’t taken back by it all.”

Hooper’s incredible season, which has now produced 30 goals, has left everybody at the club in no doubt where he belongs.

Hooper Senior, of Loughton, added: “Everyone was coming up to me at the party afterwards telling me that he is too good for Scunthorpe and that he belongs in the Premier League.”

If his son can make it look that easy at Wembley, it surely won’t be long before he is gracing our television screens on a weekly basis.