BEES GIVE GARY HIS BUZZ BACK!

GARY HOOPER was on the brink of announcing his retirement before Barnet came calling and offered the opportunity to reignite a glittering career which has taken him to the Champions League and onto the Middle East.

- Danny Rust

The 35-year-old former Celtic striker had intended to hang up his boots. after being left in limbo since leaving United Arab Emirates based side Gulf United seven months ago.

But now front the man has set his sights on adding another piece of silverware to his collection after putting pen-to-paper with the NationLeague al high-fliers.

Hooper has already endeared himself to the Bees faithful after aute 96th-minequaliser earned them a point with fellow promotion chasers Solihull Moors on Tuesday night.

Barnet's top-flight rivals Ebbsfleet United offered Hooper a route back into NonLeague football, but the veretan sharpshooter admits the opportunity to reunite with former Grays Athletic teammate and Barnet boss Dean Brennan was too good to resist.

"I was in the UAE until the season finished in March, and I hadn't done anything for five or six months before the gaffer phoned me through Aaron McLean," Hooper told The NLP.