Steve Harper

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Steve Harper
Steve Harper.jpg
Personal information
Full name Stephen Alan Harper
Date of birth 14 March 1975 (1975-03-14) (age 36)
Place of birth Easington, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 1
Youth career
1992–1993 Seaham Red Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1993– Newcastle United 151 (0)
1995 → Bradford City (loan) 1 (0)
1996 → Gateshead (loan) 12 (0)
1997 → Stockport County (loan) 0 (0)
1997 → Hartlepool United (loan) 15 (0)
1997–1998 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 24 (0)
2011 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 27 November 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

"I hadn't played for a while ... you're walking along shaking hands and you're thinking 'That's Pavel Nedvěd and that's Del Piero' and there's the Champions League music blaring."

Steve Harper[2]
Harper in April 2008, during one of his extended runs in the first team.

Stephen Alan "Steve" Harper (born 14 March 1975) is an English footballer. He plays for Premier League club Newcastle United as a goalkeeper.

After sixteen years at Newcastle and twelve seasons playing as a backup to Shay Given, Harper is the club's current longest serving player. In Brighton's FA Cup triumph against Newcastle UTD Steve Harper announced that he would be leaving Newcastle to join locan rivals Gateshead.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Harper grew up in the mining village of Easington, County Durham and studied Sport at the East Durham College. He was interested in football from a young age and was a supporter of Newcastle United although was an admirer of Liverpool, with goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar being his idol.[3] Anfield was the first football ground he went to, where he watched Liverpool win a match 2–0 in the 1982–83 season. Harper attended Easington Comprehensive School.[4] He was offered a place at Liverpool John Moores University.[3]

[edit] Career

In 1993 he was signed by Newcastle United from his local club Seaham Red Star, for a nominal fee.[5]

Seen as back-up to first-choice goalkeeper Pavel Srníček after his arrival at Newcastle, and then Shaka Hislop and subsequently Shay Given; he had loan spells at Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County, Hartlepool United and Huddersfield Town before making his first-team debut in 1999.[6]

Harper came close to dislodging Given on numerous occasions, most notably in the 1998–1999 season. Harper played in the 1999 FA Cup Final, when Newcastle lost 2–0 to Manchester United. Manager at the time Ruud Gullit appeared to see Harper worthy of playing over Given. However at the start of the 1999–2000 season, Gullit resigned and Harper again became second choice goalkeeper, although he did enjoy another brief period of first team action for part of the 1999–2000 season when Given was injured. When Given returned from injury Harper was once again used as the back-up goalkeeper.

In 2002 he made several appearances in the UEFA Champions League, most notably against Juventus. The match was played at St James' Park and Harper managed to keep a clean sheet during a 1–0 win over the Italian champions.[7] The victory helped Newcastle qualify from the group stages of the tournament. Harper has handed in a transfer request in his time with Newcastle, citing lack of regular first team football as his reason (something which Given also did when Harper kept him out of the team under Gullit). He has been linked with moves to West Bromwich Albion,[8] Celtic,[9] Watford,[10] Rangers,[11] and Liverpool[12] in his time with Newcastle, though none of these purported moves came to fruition.

He again expressed his desire to achieve first team football in June 2006,[13] an act which saw then manager Glenn Roeder attempt to persuade Harper to remain with the club. This appeared to work as he signed a new contract to keep him at St. James' Park until June 2009.[14] An injury to Given early in the 2006–07 season gave Harper another chance to prove his worth in the first team. However, he did not have the best start to first team action, as Newcastle lost 2–0 to Liverpool on 20 September 2006 in what was Harper's first league start for 15 months.[2] The second goal, a 65 yard lob from Xabi Alonso, saw Harper slip whilst backpedaling to reach it, although he did still attempt to get up and stop it. Despite this setback Harper gave some excellent performances in the season. One particular moment was his wonderful save against Manchester City in early November. Harper also received another run in the first team after a third injury to Given later that season, the highlight of this would be keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea, a feat only matched by two other keepers that season. This was the first season Harper played consecutive league matches since 2001.[2]

On 26 July 2007, Harper came on as a substitute against Celtic in a friendly match and played as a striker - something which has continually come up throughout his career.[15] Harper continued as Newcastle's goalkeeper at the beginning of the 2007–08 season under the then new boss Sam Allardyce. With Given struggling with a groin injury and rookie Tim Krul on loan at Falkirk, Harper was able to start the first six league games, keeping two clean sheets. However he lost his place again when Given was fit, though another injury to Given later in the season allowed Harper to gain more first team appearances under the new boss, and the manager who first brought him to Newcastle, Kevin Keegan. After a series of good performances, Harper was once again linked with a transfer away from Newcastle. Liverpool expressed an interest in signing him as backup to first-choice goalkeeper José Manuel Reina.[12] Keegan reacted to this by stating his intentions to keep Harper,[16] and acknowledging his record of conceding just once in seven and a half hours of play.[17]

Harper signed a new contract in January 2009, keeping him at Newcastle until 2012, his 19th year at the club.[18] During the transfer window of the same month, Newcastle's first choice goalkeeper Shay Given moved to Manchester City, elevating Harper's position within the club and so after nearly 16 years, Harper was finally first choice goalkeeper at 33 years old. Harper repaid the management's faith in him by putting in some fine match performances including several world-class saves and was the best goalkeeper in the Championship, keeping a club record 21 clean sheets in 37 matches and conceding 35 goals at less than a goal a game.

Harper made his 50th consecutive league start for Newcastle on 6 March 2010 in the 6-1 win over Barnsley. This was his longest run of consecutive starts he had ever made in his entire career.

On 23 March 2010, Harper recorded his 19th clean sheet of the season after Newcastle United beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium, thus breaking the club's clean sheet record which had stood since Newcastle United were last promoted in the 1992/1993 season. Newcastle were eventually promoted, and went on to win the division title following a 2-0 away win at Plymouth Argyle. Harper considers the title victory as the highest point of his career.[19] On 18 September 2010 he was injured in a challenge by Jermaine Beckford during the 1-0 win at Everton, needing to be substituted in the first half. On 22 September it was confirmed he would be out of action for at least 3 months.[20] In late October 2010, Chris Hughton stated Harper may be back in contention in as little as 3 weeks, after making a "very good recovery" and stated he would come back in "good shape".[21] Harper returned to training in December 2010, and made the bench in new manager Alan Pardew's first game, beating Liverpool 3-1. Young backup goalkeeper Tim Krul kept his place for the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur as well on 28 December, but Harper returned as first choice keeper against Wigan Athletic away in a 1-0 win. Harper maintained his place as goalkeeper throughout January and February.

On 24 October 2011, Harper joined Football League Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on a one month loan,[22] making his debut the same day in a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.[23]

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] Club[24]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1993–94 Newcastle United Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
1994–95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995–96
Bradford City (loan) Division Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 0
1996–97 Newcastle United Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gateshead (loan) Football Conference 12 0 0 0 - 12 0
Stockport County (loan) Division Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
1997–98 Newcastle United Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hartlepool United (loan) Division Three 15 0 0 0 0 0 - 15 0
Huddersfield Town (loan) Division One 24 0 2 0 0 0 - 26 0
1998–99 Newcastle United Premier League 8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
1999–2000 18 0 4 0 1 0 6 0 29 0
2000–01 5 0 2 0 3 0 - 10 0
2001–02 0 0 0 0 3 0 - 3 0
2002–03 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0
2003–04 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0
2004–05 2 0 2 0 1 0 3 0 8 0
2005–06 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2006–07 18 0 0 0 2 0 5 0 25 0
2007–08 21 0 0 0 0 0 - 21 0
2008–09 16 0 0 0 0 0 - 16 0
2009–10 Championship 45 0 0 0 0 0 - 45 0
2010–11 Premier League 18 0 0 0 0 0 - 18 0
2011–12 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 0
Newcastle United Total 151 0 10 0 12 0 18 0 191 0
Total 208 0 12 0 12 0 18 0 250 0
  • Stats accurate as at 00:00, 27 November 2011.

[edit] Honours

Newcastle United

[edit] Outside football

Harper is also a Football Association-approved referee, one of the few professional footballers to have earned their referee's licence. This was subject to analysis during Sky Sports News' Respect The Ref campaign, where appointing former footballers as referees was seen as a way to increase the respect shown to referees on the pitch. Harper is considering becoming a referee when he retires from playing.[2]

He has a social sciences degree from the Open University, for which he studied whilst playing for the Newcastle reserve team. Harper also enjoys reading,[3] as well as golf, which he plays with former Newcastle United teammate Alan Shearer.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~5934,00.html. Retrieved 22 April 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Northcroft, Jonathan (28 October 2007). "Steve Harper moving to whistleblowing". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article2753862.ece. Retrieved 13 June 2008. 
  3. ^ a b c Walker, Michael (23 September 2006). "Slip shunts Harper back into limelight". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/sep/23/sport.comment2. Retrieved 13 June 2008. 
  4. ^ "Boyd shooting for the stars". The Northern Echo accessdate=30 April 2008. 15 May 2004. http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2004/5/15/52247.html. 
  5. ^ "Steve Harper Profile". ESPN soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=8948&cc=5739. Retrieved 10 April 2010. 
  6. ^ "Steve Harper Profile". Newcastle United Football Club. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/steve-harper-newcastle_2241082_5934. Retrieved 10 April 2010. 
  7. ^ "Newcastle edge out Juventus". BBC Sport. 23 October 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/2349169.stm. Retrieved 12 May 2008. 
  8. ^ "Leeds Considering Milner Offer". Sky Sports. 27 January 2003. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2303987,00.html. Retrieved 16 March 2008. 
  9. ^ "Bhoys chase Harper". Sky Sports. 30 May 2003. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2284488,00.html. Retrieved 16 March 2008. 
  10. ^ "Hornets eye Harper". Sky Sports. 30 January 2001. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2237968,00.html. Retrieved 16 March 2008. 
  11. ^ "Robson keen to keep Harper". Sky Sports. 25 June 2001. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2236183,00.html. Retrieved 16 March 2008. 
  12. ^ a b Taylor, Louise (29 April 2008). "Newcastle set to rebuff Liverpool offer for Harper". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/apr/29/newcastleunited.liverpool. Retrieved 30 April 2008. 
  13. ^ "Harper admits frustration". Sky Sports. 12 June 2006. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2380004,00.html. Retrieved 30 April 2008. 
  14. ^ "Harper Signs Contract Extension". Newcastle United. 15 June 2006. http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~895636,00.html. Retrieved 16 March 2008. 
  15. ^ "Men Against Bhoys". nufc.co.uk. 26 July 2007. http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1079538,00.html. Retrieved 30 April 2008. 
  16. ^ "Keegan keen to keep Harper". Sky Sports. 29 April 2008. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3493786,00.html. Retrieved 30 April 2008. 
  17. ^ "KK Salutes Super Stopper Steve". nufc.co.uk. 11 May 2008. http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1310746,00.html. Retrieved 12 May 2008. 
  18. ^ "Harper handed new deal". Sky Sports. 27 January 2009. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4856278,00.html. Retrieved 27 January 2009. 
  19. ^ "Title Triumph Number One For No.1". nufc.co.uk. 20 April 2010. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100420/title-triumph-number-one-for-no1_2240137_2030315. Retrieved 21 April 2010. 
  20. ^ "Harper Undergoes Operation". nufc.co.uk. 23 September 2010. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100923/harper-undergoes-operation_2281670_2163443. Retrieved 25 September 2010. 
  21. ^ "Taylor nears Toon return". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6458607,00.html. 
  22. ^ "Steve Seals Seagulls Switch". nufc.co.uk. 24 October 2011. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20111024/steve-seals-seagulls-switch_2281670_2492289. Retrieved 24 October 2011. 
  23. ^ "Brighton 0-1 West Ham". bbc.co.uk. 24 October 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/15331130.stm. Retrieved 24 October 2011. 
  24. ^ "Steve Harper Career Stats". Soccerbase. 28 December 2009. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=3278. Retrieved 28 December 2009. 

[edit] External links

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Newcastle United F.C. – current squad
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