A forward noted for his skill,[2][6][7] he played for Clyde (two spells), Celtic, Motherwell and Queen of the South in Scotland, Sunderland in England and San Antonio Thunder in the United States.
Born in Glasgow and raised in the city's Garthamlock neighbourhood,[2] Hood's older brother Jackie was also a footballer[9] who won the Liverpool Senior Cup while a reserve player at Everton[10] but had returned to Scotland and local Junior club St Roch's by the time his younger sibling was starting his career.
[11] This good form continued into the next campaign and, after hesitating over a move to Celtic, the team he had supported in childhood,[9] he was transferred to English club Sunderland for a fee of £30,000 in November 1964.
[8] Hood signed for Celtic in March 1969 for a £40,000 transfer fee,[8] and quickly established himself in a talented group managed by Jock Stein including the Europe-conquering Lisbon Lions and the emerging highly rated youth players such as Kenny Dalglish dubbed the Quality Street Gang.
[14][15] Hood left Celtic in 1976 and, after short spells with San Antonio Thunder in the NASL[8] and Motherwell, ended his playing career with Dumfries club Queen of the South in season 1977–78.
[16] In the 1967 close season Hood was a member of an unofficial Scotland national team which travelled to destinations including Israel, Australia and Canada, winning every match.