Harper was born in
Wednesbury,
Staffordshire. He signed amateur forms with
Aston Villa in February 1954, and also played football for
Darlaston. Harper signed amateur forms with
Birmingham City at the start of the 1955–56 season, and turned professional the following August despite still having six months left of his
National Service commitments with the
RAF. He was brought into the travelling party on 20 February as cover in case
Bolton Wanderers' pitch proved too firm for
Peter Murphy's troublesome knee; it was, Harper made his
First Division debut, and Birmingham lost 3–1. He was transfer-listed at the end of the next season, but re-signed in June after joint manager
Arthur Turner gave him another chance, believing that "the frail-looking Harper could make the grade if he put a bit more snap in his game." He made no more senior appearances, and was again transfer-listed at the end of the 1958–59 season. Despite interest from
Fourth Division club
Torquay United and Arthur Turner's new employers,
Headington United of the
Southern League, Harper signed for
Romford, in their first season as a professional club. He helped Romford win the
Southern League Division One title, and scored seven goals from 50 appearances before leaving the club in the middle of the next season to join
Burton Albion. He moved on again in the close season to
Nuneaton Borough, managed by his former Birmingham team-mate
Jack Badham, and played regularly at the start of the season, but was transfer-listed in December. He did not leave, and made three more appearances in March 1962, before being given a free transfer at the end of the campaign. He joined
Stafford Rangers, but found the travelling to training too onerous, and switched to
Brierley Hill Alliance in September 1962. ==References==