Hooper takes on St Blazey
News Archive > Sport > Hooper takes on St Blazey
After months of speculation one of Cornwall's most decorated players Glynn Hooper has returned to the club where he won 17 major trophies, being named the new manager of St Blazey.
Hooper, now 37, the club's all-time leading goalscorer was part of the green and blacks side managed by Trevor Mewton that won the South Western league seven times in nine seasons, plus three league, three senior and four charity cups and he has replaced Bobby Oaten who parted ways with the club just this past week.
Oaten was told less than a month after the end of the season that his time with the club was up and as the Voice first suggested back in December, Hooper will be hoping to bring the glory days back to Blaise Park as the club's new boss.
With 298 goals to his name during his first spell with the club Hooper has named Phil Lafferty as his assistant-manager.
The former Exeter City apprentice Lafferty has been out of the game since his leaving St Austell before the start of last season.
Speaking to the Voice Hooper said: "I always wanted to come back and manage this club but it had to be at the right time and I wasn't too sure when that was going to be, but I feel that now is the right time to come back.
"I am very ambitious, I want to win trophies and bring the local support back to the club.
"Phil Lafferty is going to be my assistant and he will bring an awful lot to the table.
"I want to unite the club with the community and I want to hold links with local youth clubs and schools and make this club a cornerstone of the community.
"I am ambitious and it's about developing the young players in this area.
"I'm going to be doing a pre-season, I can't play 50 games a season anymore but if needed for the last 20 minutes here and there I will put my boots on.
"I had 12 months with Penzance, but it was never long term for me down there.
"Blaise Park is a huge selling point, it's about what the club can offer a player in history, tradition and facilities.
"There isn't much money down here, but I want to show that we can be competitive without a big budget.
"I think Bobby (Oaten) did well in really difficult circumstances and maybe he was unfortunate that he didn't have the local connections but he has brought some good youngsters to this club."
Lafferty, who had a previous spell at the club as assistant to Dave Philp told the Voice: "It's a privilege to return to the club and it is a great opportunity to work with Glynn Hooper and am looking forward to this big challenge ahead."
Hooper has also moved to re-assure the club's current players that they have a future at the club and added: "I've been slowly getting around to speak to all of last season's squad and the response that I have had so far has been good, they enjoy playing for this club and some of them are ambitious.
"There are some good players that were here last season and I am looking to keep some of them."
