born in blackheath, hoare started out with junior sides such as west norwood, woolwich polytechnic, and bromley before joining woolwich arsenal in 1907. he made his league debut in a first division match against sheffield wednesday on 20 april 1908, the last day of the 1907–08 season. although he played 11 league matches in 1908–09, scoring five goals, he was unhappy at the lack of regular first-team football and moved to glossop in december 1909. from 1909 through to 1911 he also turned out occasionally for kent league side northfleet united.