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Steve Harper

Steve Harper is currently regarded as one of the best back up goalkeepers in the Premier League. Having played as a young boy for Seaham Red Star he joined Newcastle United in 1993. Although signed by Kevin keegan he did not play under Keegan, no his successor Kenny Dalglish.

Steve spent his first five years on loan at Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County, Hartlepool United and Hudderfield Town, respectively before finally being given a game by Ruud Gullit. Despite 14 years at Newcastle he is yet to establish himself as a first team regular playing as understudy to first Pavel Srnicek, then Shaka Hislop and then Shay Given.

He has come close on several occasions to dislodging Shay Given for the number one jersey, most notably in 1998/1999 when Harper was given a chance by Ruud Gullit who even dropped Shay from the 1998 FA Cup Final in favour of Steve, unfortunately Newcastle lost 2-0 to Manchester United.

Harper started the new season in goal but after Ruud Gullit resigned as manager Shay was back in goal. Steve did enjoy a brief spell in goal in 1999/2000 while Shay was injured but then lost his place after suffering his own injury.

Harper has threatened to leave Newcastle on several occassions, he almost joined Hartlepool after his loan spell but a fee could not be agreed and in 2002 he rejected the chance to join Rangers as he was not guarenteed first team football.

An injury to Shay Given in 2006 gave Steve another chance in goal but he did not have the best of starts as during a game against Liverpool he was beaten by a 70 yard shot from Xabi Alonso. Harper slipped while running backwards allow the ball to beat him and enter the goal.

Despite that set back he put in some fantastic performances, one notable save in a game against Manchester City and keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea, something that only two other keepers had achieved during that season.

When Sam Allardyce became manager in 2007 and injury to Given meant that Harper started the season in goal, by the time Shay Given was back in the first team Newcastle were close to the top of the table.

Info

Full name: Stephen Alan Harper
DOB: 14th March 1975
Place of Birth: Easington, England
Height: 6ft 2in
Position: Goalkeeper
Signed from: Seaham Red Star
Date signed: 5th July 1993
Debut: 28th November 1998 v Wimbledon

Facts

Steve is the longest serving memeber of the current squad having joined the club in 1993.

Steve was signed by Kevin Keegan and is the only remaining player from Keegan's first spell as manager.

Steve has stayed loyal to Newcastle despite never managing to dislodge any goalkeeper as first choice, he has played understudy to Pavel Srnicek, Shaka Hislop and Shay Given.