 Hope at Swindon Town during their title winning season. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hallam Robert Hope[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1994-03-17)17 March 1994 (age 31)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward[4] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Morecambe | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2013 | Everton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2015 | Everton | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | →Northampton Town (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 2014 | →Bury (loan) | 8 | (5) |
| 2014 | →Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | →Bury (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Bury | 54 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | →Carlisle United (loan) | 21 | (4) |
| 2017–2020 | Carlisle United | 104 | (25) |
| 2020–2021 | Swindon Town | 37 | (7) |
| 2021–2024 | Oldham Athletic | 72 | (11) |
| 2024– | Morecambe | 21 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| England U16 | |||
| 2010–2011 | England U17 | 17 | (12) |
| 2011–2012 | England U18 | 2 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | England U19 | 6 | (2) |
| 2018– | Barbados | 6 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:58, 24 March 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:47, 21 November 2019 (UTC) | |||
Hallam Robert Hope (born 17 March 1994) is a professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forEFL League Two clubMorecambe. Born in England, Hope representsBarbados internationally after representing England up tounder-19 level.
He joined theAcademy atEverton in 2005. He never played a senior game for the club, though spent brief loan spells atNorthampton Town,Bury andSheffield Wednesday in 2014, before joining Bury permanently in January 2015, who would end the 2014–15 season being promoted out ofLeague Two. He spent most of the 2015–16 season on loan atCarlisle United, and after establishing himself in the Bury first-team during the 2016–17 campaign, he joined Carlisle United on a permanent basis in June 2017. He spent two and a half seasons with the club, before joining Swindon Town in January 2020. Swindon went on to win promotion as champions of League Two at the end of the 2019–20 season, though his appearances were limited as the season was ended in early March.
Hope was spotted playing at a tournament inManchester at the age of 12 and chose to joinEverton after a trial atManchester City.[5] He signed a full-time scholarship with the club in 2010.[6] He was named as Academy Player of the Season for the 2011–12 campaign.[7] In September 2013, he signed a two-year contract with the club and was given squad number 37.[8]
On 2 January 2014, Hope joinedLeague Two sideNorthampton Town on a month's loan.[9] He made his debut on 4 January, scoring in a 2–1 win atNewport County.[10] He made a further two appearances for the "Cobblers" before returning to Everton on 30 January.[11]
On 27 March 2014, Hope joined League Two sideBury on loan until the end of the2013–14 season.[12] He made an immediate impact at Bury, netting a debut goal in a 3–0 win over former club Northampton Town atSixfields on 29 March.[13] Three days later he scored again in a 2–1 win overBristol Rovers atGigg Lane.[14] On 26 April, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–4 draw withPortsmouth.[15] This made him the first Bury player to score a hat-trick sinceIan Lawson in 1999.[16]
On 29 August 2014, Hope joinedChampionship sideSheffield Wednesday on loan until 1 January.[17][18] He made his debut the next day atHillsborough, coming on as a substitute forJoe Mattock in the 85th-minute, in a 1–0 loss toNottingham Forest.[19] He impressed head coachStuart Gray despite only playing for just over five minutes, who said that "he showed his power and strength and willingness to run at defenders".[20] However, with only four appearances for the "Owls", he returned toGoodison Park on 29 October after being recalled by Everton.[21]
On 11 November 2014, Hope returned to Bury on loan until 3 January 2015.[22] Despite not scoring in his seven appearances for Bury that season, he signed permanently for an undisclosed fee (later revealed to be £100,000[23]) on a three-and-a-half-year deal starting at the end of his loan. ManagerDavid Flitcroft said "his potential is frightening and I love working with him".[24] Flitcroft had tried to sign him at the start of the season before Wednesday came in with their loan offer.[25] However Hope struggled despite Bury being in good form – winning automatic promotion at the end of the2014–15 season – and scored only one goal in his first 32 appearances since joining permanently; Flitcroft tried to accommodate him on the wings before bringing in veteran wingerChris Eagles and stated that Hope "has been a victim of the fine form ofLeon Clarke,Tom Pope andDanny Rose".[26]
On 22 October 2015, Hope joinedCarlisle United on a one-month loan deal.[27] He made three appearances for the "Cumbrians", scoring in a 2–0 win overPlymouth Argyle on 7 November to take them into the second round of theFA Cup.[28] He picked up an ankle injury during the game and was sidelined for two months, but nevertheless had his loan spell extended until 22 January.[29] Upon his recovery the loan was extended until the end of the2015–16 season.[30] Carlisle reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, and Hope came on as a half-time substitute as former club Everton recorded a 3–0 victory atBrunton Park.[31] He was sent off for the first time in his career on 16 April, having made a dangerous challenge onDarnell Furlong during at goalless draw atCambridge United.[32] He scored five goals in 25 games for Carlisle, who felt unable to fund a permanent move for the player.[23]
Hope remained at Bury for the2016–17 season, scoring five goals in 39 appearances as the club posted a 19th-place finish inLeague One under the stewardship ofLee Clark.[33]
On 29 June 2017, Hope signed a two-year contract with Carlisle United.[34] On joining the club he stated that he hoped to play at centre-forward, but would be happy to play in other positions if required to do so.[5] ManagerKeith Curle spoke of his previous efforts to sign Hope and joked that "I've probably chased Hallam more than I've ever chased anyone else through my whole life – ex-wife, ex-partner and current girlfriend included!"[35] However Hope struggled at centre-forward and received criticism from "Blues" supporters, though by March had regained confidence and form playing as a left-sided attacking midfielder.[36] He ended the2017–18 season with 18 goals in 49 appearances, finishing as the club's top-scorer. He was set a target of 15 goals for the2018–19 season, with assistant managerTommy Wright describing him as "one of the best attacking players in this division".[37] He was shortlisted for theLeague Two Player of the Month award after scoring three goals and claiming an assist as the club rose up the League Two table in January.[38] He signed a contract extension in March to keep him at Carlisle until 2020.[39] He achieved his target, scoring 15 goals in 44 games to become the club's top-scorer for the second successive season.[33]
The club turned down a transfer bid from an unnamed club for Hope in August 2019.[40] The club was speculated to be League One clubBlackpool, though this was disputed after managerTerry McPhillips was replaced bySimon Grayson.[41] Carlisle managerSteven Pressley suggested that the player's "head has been turned" by transfer speculation but defended him after fans began to jeer Hope following a downturn in performances.[42] He further backed the player in October after Hope rejected a call-up from Barbados to instead play for Carlisle.[43] Upon Hope's departure from Carlisle, managerChris Beech said that "he's been superb for me from the moment I came through the door" but that his sale represented a "good deal for the club".[44]
Hope joinedSwindon Town for an undisclosed fee on 22 January 2020, signing an 18-month contract.[45] He had been a target for "Robins" managerRichie Wellens at the start of the season, who was in desperate need of a striker after loaneesJerry Yates and top-scorerEoin Doyle were both recalled to their parent clubs.[46] Three days later he scored on his debut at theCounty Ground, as Swindon recorded a 3–0 victory overPort Vale.[47] He scored a total of two goals from five games before the2019–20 season was ended early due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in England, with Swindon being promoted as champions after the league table was settled on a points per game basis.[33][48]
On 14 May 2021, it was announced that he would leave Swindon at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[49]
Hope joinedOldham Athletic on afree transfer on 22 June 2021, signing a one-year contract.[50] He remained for another year afterOldham dropped down to theNational League for the first time.
He departed the club at the end of the2023–24 season upon the expiration of his contract.[51]
Hope was one of 15 free agents that signed forLeague Two clubMorecambe on 12 July 2024, after the club's embargo on registering new players was lifted.[52]
Hope represented England atunder-16 (two goals in seven games),under-17 (12 goals in 17 games),under-18 (two goals in two games) andunder-19 level (two goals in six games).[4] He was in England's squads for the2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup,2011 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
He was also eligible to representBarbados through his father, Russell, who emigrated to England before Hope was born.[53] His paternal grandfather hails fromTrinidad and Tobago.[54] He accepted a call up from Barbados and made his senior international debut on 5 September 2018, scoring both his nation's goals in a 2–2 draw withGuyana in aCONCACAF Nations League qualifying game.[55][56] In December 2018, CONCACAF declared Hope ineligible to represent Barbados, wiping his two appearances and two goals.[57] However, Hope returned to international duty and on 19 November 2019 he scored twice in a 3–0 victory over theCayman Islands to secure promotion for Barbados into League B of the CONCACAF Nations League.[58]
Hope can play as aforward orwinger, though is primarily utilised on the left-side of an attacking three.[59] David Flitcroft, former Bury manager, was a big fan of Hope and in January 2015 said that "he adds power, speed, strength and potency to our squad".[60] Carlisle first-team coachPaul Murray praised his work rate in training and said that "Hallam is quiet but he leads by example".[37] Carlisle's assistant manager Tommy Wright said that "he's direct and he isn't frightened to run with the ball. If it goes wrong for him he gets the ball and tries again".[37] He has been praised for his finishing skills, movement and aerial threat but has been crtiicised for a lack of aggression, work rate and left-foot ability.[61][59]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Everton | 2013–14[62] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[63] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Northampton Town (loan) | 2013–14[62] | League Two | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Bury (loan) | 2013–14[62] | League Two | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2014–15[63] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| Bury (loan) | 2014–15[63] | League Two | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Bury | 2014–15[63] | League Two | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015–16[64] | League One | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2016–17[65] | League One | 33 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 39 | 5 | |
| Total | 58 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 71 | 6 | ||
| Carlisle United (loan) | 2015–16[64] | League Two | 21 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| Carlisle United | 2017–18[66] | League Two | 41 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 1 | 49 | 13 |
| 2018–19[67] | League Two | 40 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 44 | 15 | |
| 2019–20[68] | League Two | 23 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 1 | 30 | 3 | |
| Total | 104 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 123 | 31 | ||
| Swindon Town | 2019–20[68] | League Two | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 2020–21[69] | League One | 32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 36 | 5 | |
| Total | 37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 7 | ||
| Oldham Athletic | 2021–22[70] | League Two | 39 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 46 | 5 |
| 2022–23[33] | National League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||
| 2023–24[33] | National League | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 1 | 20 | 4 | ||
| Total | 72 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 84 | 12 | ||
| Career total | 307 | 56 | 24 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 359 | 67 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados[33] | 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2 | |
| Total | 6 | 4 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 2018 | Synthetic Track and Field Facility,Leonora,Guyana |  Guyana | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification |
| 2 | 2–1 | |||||
| 3 | 19 November 2019 | Wildey Turf,Bridgetown,Barbados |  Cayman Islands | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C |
| 4 | 3–0 |
Bury
Swindon Town
