Newcastle United In 1993, he was signed by
Newcastle United from his local club
Seaham Red Star, for a nominal fee. 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 as a half time substitute against
Wimbledon in 1998. At this point Harper achieved the rare feat of making an appearance in each of the top five divisions of the English game. Harper came close to dislodging Given on numerous occasions, most notably in the
1998–99 season. Harper played in the
1999 FA Cup Final, when Newcastle lost 2–0 to
Manchester United. Then-manager
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 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. 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,
Celtic,
Watford,
Rangers, and
Liverpool 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, 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. 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. 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
Pepe Reina. and acknowledging his record of conceding just once in seven and a half hours of play. Harper signed a new contract in January 2009, keeping him at Newcastle until 2012, his nineteenth year at the club. During the transfer window of the same month, 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 nineteenth clean sheet of the season after Newcastle beat
Doncaster Rovers 1–0 at the
Keepmoat Stadium, thus breaking the club's clean sheet record which had stood since Newcastle were last promoted in the
1992–93 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. On 18 September 2010, Harper 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 three months. 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". Harper returned to training in December 2010, and made the bench in new manager
Alan Pardew's first game, beating Liverpool 3–1. 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. In the
2011–12 season, Harper once again lost his place to Krul and often did not even make the bench. On 24 October 2011, Harper joined
Football League Championship side
Brighton & Hove Albion on a one-month loan, making his debut the same day in a 1–0 defeat to
West Ham United. In the summer before the
2012–13 season, Krul was given the number 1 shirt number, previously worn by Harper. He moved to the number 37. On 23 August 2012, Harper made his first appearance for Newcastle in 15 months away to
Atromitos in the
UEFA Europa League play-off match in a 1–1 draw. On 17 September 2012, in a match against
Everton, Harper sportingly told referee
Mike Jones not to book
Victor Anichebe for a late challenge on Harper himself. On 22 March 2013, Newcastle announced that Harper will be leaving at the end of the 2012–13 season, thus ending his 20 years service at the club. On 12 May 2013, Harper was subbed on following
Rob Elliot receiving a second yellow card against
Queens Park Rangers. He played the final 10 minutes without conceding a goal, and Newcastle were assured safety from relegation. On 19 May 2013, Harper played in his final game in a 1–0 defeat to
Arsenal, in which he captained the team. Harper retired from professional football after the expiration of his contract at Newcastle.
Hull City On 11 July 2013, it was revealed that newly promoted Premier League side
Hull City are to offer Harper a one-year contract, as back up for their new goalkeeper
Allan McGregor. Hull had previously approached Newcastle to take Harper on loan in January 2012 under then-manager
Nick Barmby. Harper underwent his medical on 15 July. On 23 May 2014, Harper signed a new one-year deal with Hull. On 11 September 2013, Newcastle honoured Harper for his 20 years at the club with a
Testimonial against an
A.C. Milan XI. which included former
Sunderland manager
Paolo Di Canio. Former Newcastle players involved included Harper, along with
Alan Shearer,
Nolberto Solano,
John Beresford,
Darren Peacock,
Nikos Dabizas,
Lee Bowyer,
Rob Lee,
Ruel Fox,
David Ginola,
Peter Beardsley,
Faustino Asprilla,
Joey Barton,
Shay Given and
Andy Cole amongst others. Milan won the game 2–1 on penalties while £300,000 were raised for charity.
Sunderland On 22 January 2016, Harper signed for,
Premier League side
Sunderland until the end of the
2015–16 season, to provide cover for goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford and
Vito Mannone. On 10 June, it was announced that Harper would not be offered a new contract by Sunderland. ==Coaching career==