Colin Harper (footballer) explained

Colin Harper
Fullname:Colin George Harper
Birth Date:25 July 1946
Birth Place:Ipswich, England
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Ipswich, England[2]
Height:[3]
Position:Left-back
Youthyears1:1964–1966
Youthclubs1:Ipswich Town
Years1:1966–1977
Clubs1:Ipswich Town
Caps1:148
Goals1:5
Years2:1976
Clubs2:Grimsby Town (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:1977
Clubs3:Cambridge United (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:1977–1978
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:1978
Clubs5:Waterford
Years6:1978–1980
Clubs6:Sudbury Town
Years7:1980–1981
Clubs7:Chelmsford City
Totalcaps:170
Totalgoals:5
Manageryears1:1977
Managerclubs1:Port Vale (caretaker)
Manageryears2:1978
Managerclubs2:Waterford
Manageryears3:1978–1980
Managerclubs3:Sudbury Town
Manageryears4:1980–1981
Managerclubs4:Chelmsford City

Colin Harper (25 July 1946 – 29 March 2018) was an English professional footballer and football manager. He played as a left-back and made 198 league and cup appearances in a 12-year career in the Football League.

He spent 1966 to 1977 at Ipswich Town, helping the club to win the Second Division title in 1967–68 and then to go on to compete in Europe under Bobby Robson. In 1976–77, he played on loan at Grimsby Town and Cambridge United, helping Ron Atkinson's Cambridge to the Fourth Division title. He became player-manager for brief spells at Port Vale, Waterford (Ireland), Sudbury Town and Chelmsford City, before entering the building trade. He was inducted into the Ipswich Town F.C. Hall of Fame in 2016.

Playing career

Ipswich Town

Harper started his career at Ipswich Town, who were struggling in the Second Division in 1965–66. He made his first-team debut on 19 February, in a 3–0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle. He turned professional under manager Bill McGarry, and helped the "Blues" to rise to fifth in 1966–67, before finishing top of the division in 1967–68. They retained their First Division status in 1968–69, after Bobby Robson was appointed as manager. Ipswich hovered above the relegation places in 1969–70 and 1970–71, before rising to 13th in 1971–72. He scored his first senior goal on 9 October 1971, in a 1–1 draw with Nottingham Forest at Portman Road. He was sent off for the first-time in his career on 15 April 1972, during a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United. Three days later he scored the second goal of his career, his header helping to deny Manchester City the title as it proved to be the winning goal in a 2–1 victory on the penultimate day of the season.[4]

Town finished fourth in 1972–73 and 1973–74. However, Harper picked up a knee injury in 1973 that would plague the rest of his career.[5] Their fourth-place finishes entitled them to compete in the UEFA Cup. Harper competed in Europe under Sir Bobby Robson and was part of the team which beat Real Madrid in the 1973 UEFA Cup. Still, Ipswich Town lost 4–3 on penalties against Lokomotiv Leipzig in the UEFA Quarter-final 2nd leg away at Bruno Plache Stadion with a high attendance of 57,000. They posted a third-place finish in 1974–75 and were just two points behind champions Derby County. Harper was granted a testimonial match in 1975.[6] Ipswich dropped to sixth in 1975–76, before rising again to third-place in 1976–77, five points behind champions Liverpool. Harper had two loan spells in 1976–77, playing three Third Division games for relegated Grimsby Town and 15 games under Ron Atkinson on loan at Fourth Division champions Cambridge United.[7]

Port Vale

Harper joined Third Division club Port Vale as player-coach in July 1977, with manager Roy Sproson appointing him to replace Roy Chapman.[8] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw at Wrexham on 27 August, but was to only make a further three appearances for the "Valiants" in 1977–78.[8] He was made acting manager on 18 October 1977, and insisted that there was to be no smiling during training as it was a serious matter.[9] His reign at Vale Park only lasted a month as new manager Bobby Smith brought in his own staff, including assistant Dennis Butler, and Harper's contract was cancelled by the club in January 1978.[8]

Management career

After leaving Port Vale, he was appointed player-manager of Waterford. He led the "Blues" to the FAI Cup semi-finals and fifth in the League of Ireland. He signed with Sudbury Town in September 1978.[10] He gave up playing three months later due to arthritis in his knee, though he stayed on at the club as manager.[11] He then moved on to Chelmsford City, and led the club to an 18th-place finish in the Southern League in 1980–81.

Later life

Harper became a builder after leaving the game.[12] In May 2002, it was reported by the Ipswich Star that he had £7,000 worth of tools stolen from his van in Ipswich.[12] He continued to follow Ipswich Town until his death from illness on 29 March 2018.[1] An inquest revealed that he died from an asbestos-related disease, having been exposed to asbestos whilst working as an apprentice joiner and carpenter before he took up his football career.[13]

Career statistics

Playing statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ipswich Town1965–66Second Division60000060
1966–67Second Division40000040
1967–68Second Division20000020
1968–69First Division40000040
1969–70First Division1801010200
1970–71First Division1300000130
1971–72First Division4222010452
1972–73First Division35121100472
1973–74First Division1420060202
1974–75First Division1000050150
Total1485512301766
Grimsby Town (loan)1976–77Third Division30000030
Cambridge United (loan)1976–77Fourth Division1500000150
Port Vale1977–78Third Division40000040
Career total1705512301986

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Ipswich Town

1967–68[1]

Cambridge United

1976–77

Individual

Inducted 2016[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Heath. Mark. Former Ipswich Town defender Colin Harper dies. 31 March 2018. Ipswich Star. 30 March 2018. en. 5 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405131528/http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/former-ipswich-town-defender-colin-harper-dies-aged-71-1-5458020. dead.
  2. Ancestry.com. England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2019 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014.
  3. Book: Lamming. Douglas. A Who's Who of Grimsby Town AFC 1890-1985. 1985. Hutton Press. 0907033342. 60.
  4. News: British Newspaper Archive. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19720419/237/0034. 31 March 2018. Daily Mirror. 19 April 1972. en.
  5. News: British Newspaper Archive. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19750725/416/0016. 31 March 2018. Aberdeen Evening Express. 25 July 1975. en.
  6. News: COLIN HARPER - News - Ipswich Town. 31 March 2018. itfc.co.uk. 30 March 2018. en-gb.
  7. Web site: Ipswich Town FC. sporting-heroes.net. 5 May 2012.
  8. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 127. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  9. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Tales: A Collection of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. December 1991. 86. 0-9508981-6-3.
  10. News: British Newspaper Archive. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19780918/415/0030. 31 March 2018. Coventry Evening Telegraph. 18 September 1978. en.
  11. News: British Newspaper Archive. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19781204/402/0029. 31 March 2018. Coventry Evening Telegraph. 4 December 1978. en.
  12. News: Former Town hero targeted by thieves. 5 May 2012. Ipswich Star. 3 May 2002. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000654/http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/former_town_hero_targeted_by_thieves_1_126317. dead.
  13. News: Footballer died from asbestos exposure . 21 November 2018 . BBC News . 19 November 2018.
  14. Web site: Hall of Fame Awards 2016 . Ipswich Town F.C. . 8 August 2016 . 18 March 2016 . Steve . Pearce . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820212324/http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/hall-of-fame-awards-2016-3014611.aspx . 20 August 2016 .