Lee Harper
Encyclopedia
Lee Charles Philip Harper (born 30 October 1971) is an English footballer who was most recently player-manager of Kettering Town
. He plays as a goalkeeper.
, London
, Harper started his career at non-League
Sittingbourne
, before being signed by Arsenal
in June 1994. He cost Arsenal £150,000 - one of the biggest fees paid for a non league player at the time.
He was third-choice goalkeeper at the club, behind Vince Bartram
and David Seaman
, and only made one first team appearance for the Highbury side, in a 2–0 FA Premier League win over Southampton
on 15 March 1997. In the summer of 1997 he moved to Queens Park Rangers
(QPR), and in four seasons made 118 league appearances. He moved to Walsall
in 2001 after QPR were relegated to the Second Division
, but made only three appearances in his single season there. He moved to Northampton Town
in 2002 and became first-choice goalkeeper there, recording over 150 league appearances.
He moved to League Two
team Milton Keynes Dons
on loan in October 2006, where he helped to repair the team's poor defending record, with a significant reduction in goals conceded. This successful loan spell resulted in Harper signing a permanent deal in January 2007. He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season in May. He signed for Conference North
team Kettering Town
in August 2007. He made 40 appearances in all competitions in the 2007–08 season as Kettering won the Conference North title. He made 54 appearances in all competitions in the 2008–09
season and he signed a new contract with the club in July 2009.
season following the departure of Mark Cooper. On 8 December 2009 Harper was given the Man of the Match award by ITV commentator Andy Townsend
for his performance in Kettering Town's 5–1 defeat to Leeds United
at Elland Road
in the second round of the FA Cup
. His assistant John Deehan
was sacked after the final whistle and Harper said in the press conference after the game he was considering his own future due to Deehan's sacking. Due to a long-term back problem he was ruled out of action until he had treatment, which resulted in him signing goalkeeper Nathan Abbey
in January 2010. He said he was unsure over his future at the club in April 2010 before being appointed full-time manager at on 17 May, with Tommy Jaszczun
returning to the club as his assistant manager. However, he left the club by mutual consent on 20 September after Kettering had won one game in nine up to that point in the 2010–11
season.
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
. He plays as a goalkeeper.
Playing career
Born in ChelseaChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Harper started his career at non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne F.C.
Sittingbourne F.C. are a football club based in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. They were established in 1886 and were founder members of the Kent League. They have reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup at least twice in their history...
, before being signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in June 1994. He cost Arsenal £150,000 - one of the biggest fees paid for a non league player at the time.
He was third-choice goalkeeper at the club, behind Vince Bartram
Vince Bartram
Vincent Lee Bartram is an English former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. He is now goalkeeping coach at Southampton F.C.-Career:...
and David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
, and only made one first team appearance for the Highbury side, in a 2–0 FA Premier League win over Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 15 March 1997. In the summer of 1997 he moved to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
(QPR), and in four seasons made 118 league appearances. He moved to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in 2001 after QPR were relegated to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, but made only three appearances in his single season there. He moved to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in 2002 and became first-choice goalkeeper there, recording over 150 league appearances.
He moved to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on loan in October 2006, where he helped to repair the team's poor defending record, with a significant reduction in goals conceded. This successful loan spell resulted in Harper signing a permanent deal in January 2007. He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season in May. He signed for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
team Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
in August 2007. He made 40 appearances in all competitions in the 2007–08 season as Kettering won the Conference North title. He made 54 appearances in all competitions in the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season and he signed a new contract with the club in July 2009.
Managerial career
He was appointed as player-manager of Kettering Town on 16 November 2009 on a contract until the end of the 2009–102009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season following the departure of Mark Cooper. On 8 December 2009 Harper was given the Man of the Match award by ITV commentator Andy Townsend
Andy Townsend
Andrew "Andy" David Townsend is a former professional footballer, who played in two World Cups for the Republic of Ireland and is now a television and radio pundit....
for his performance in Kettering Town's 5–1 defeat to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
in the second round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. His assistant John Deehan
John Deehan
John Matthew Deehan is an English former footballer who in recent years has had several spells in coaching and management. He is currently unemployed having previously held the position of Director of football at Grimsby Town....
was sacked after the final whistle and Harper said in the press conference after the game he was considering his own future due to Deehan's sacking. Due to a long-term back problem he was ruled out of action until he had treatment, which resulted in him signing goalkeeper Nathan Abbey
Nathan Abbey
Nathanael "Nathan" Abbey is a journeyman English professional football goalkeeper currently without a team.-Career:Abbey was born in Islington, London and began his football career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in August 1995...
in January 2010. He said he was unsure over his future at the club in April 2010 before being appointed full-time manager at on 17 May, with Tommy Jaszczun
Tommy Jaszczun
Antony John Jaszczun is a professional footballer, currently with Conference North side Corby Town, where he plays as a defender-Aston Villa:...
returning to the club as his assistant manager. However, he left the club by mutual consent on 20 September after Kettering had won one game in nine up to that point in the 2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nation | From | Kettering Town Kettering Town F.C. Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08... | 16 November 2009 | 20 September 2010 | 37 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 21.6 |
|---|