Former Lincoln City striker Tom Hopper has been released by Southend, less than a week after helping them to lift the FA Trophy.
32-year-old Hopper is a veteran of the Imps 2020/21 play-off final appearance, and he scored a goal in either semi-final to ensure we progressed to Wembley, where we wilted in the summer sun against Blackpool. Originally having signed in January 2020, he opened his account with a brace as we beat Burton Albion 3-2 in the final game before the Covid break.
Hopper became a key part of Michael Appleton’s side over the next two seasons and was handed the captaincy under Mark Kennedy. He scored the opening goal of the Kennedy era, but his spell at the Bank was injury-hit. He scored his final goals in the 2-2 draw with Accrington in the EFL Trophy, before a move to Colchester United.
After seven goals in 81 outings for the Us, he moved back to Southend, where he’d previously appeared before moving to Lincoln. He’s since appeared 65 times for the Shrimpers in all competitions, finishing this season with four goals.
He came on after 81 minutes of the FA Trophy final against Wealdstone, a game that finished 0-0 and went to penalties. Charley Kendall and Harry Boyes, both retained by Southend, scored in the shootout, but Hopper was not involved. However, he enjoyed his moment in the London rain, but is now on the lookout for a new club.
Boyes remains at Roots Hall as his contract has a year left to run, while Kendall, who struggled to adapt to league football after his switch from Eastbourne to the Imps, saw a one-year option the club had extended. Still only 25, Kendall has scored 10 goals this season but, like Hopper, was unable to find a strike against Scunthorpe in the play-offs, with them losing 1-0.
Fans may remember Boyes after a promising loan from Sheffield United, where he appeared to be a wing-back with a promising future. However, since the Imps, loans at Wycombe and Fleetwood did not work out, so the 24-year-old joined the Shrimpers in the summer. He’s become a key player for them, starting 44 National League matches over the course of the campaign.
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