Hopper was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and began his football career with his hometown club.
He moved on to Crook Town and then West Auckland Town – scoring five goals on his debut for each club, against Stanley United on each occasion, and in his last match for West Auckland, a Northern League club, scoring the equaliser as they came back from three goals behind to draw with Barnsley of the Football League Third Division in the 1960–61 FA Cup.
[3] In 1961, he signed as a full-time professional with Halifax Town, two years later moved on to Workington, and finished his Football League career with six league appearances for Darlington as they were promoted from the Fourth Division in 1965–66.
[4] Hopper scored one of the goals as Darlington eliminated First Division club Blackpool, whose team contained four England internationals, from that season's League Cup.
Knee cartilage problems meant he then dropped back into non-league football with South Shields and Stockton.