Born in Brixton in 1928, Alan Hooper played rugby at Rutlish School and it was only when he was concussed and forbidden to take part in egg chasing that he switched to the round ball game. A regular for his unit and division in an army career that ended in 1947 he established himself as the first choice goalkeeper at Kingstonian. Joining Wimbledon for the 1951-52 season he was widely regarded as one of the finest amateur custodian in the country during the early 1950s.