Vincent Harper Explained

Vincent Harper
Full Name:Vincent McDyess Harper[1]
Birth Date:22 September 2000
Birth Place:Nairobi, Kenya
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Exeter City
Clubnumber:31
Youthyears1:–2019
Youthclubs1:Bristol City
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Bristol City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2019
Clubs2:→ Gloucester City (loan)
Caps2:15
Goals2:1
Years3:2019
Clubs3:→ Weston-super-Mare (loan)
Caps3:?
Goals3:?
Clubs4:→ Bath City (loan)
Years4:2020
Goals4:0
Caps4:2
Years5:2021
Clubs5:Chippenham Town
Caps5:3
Goals5:0
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Eastleigh
Caps6:69
Goals6:5
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Exeter City
Caps7:27
Goals7:1
Nationalteam1:England C
Nationalyears1:2023
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:23:34, 12 March 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:20:58, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Vincent McDyess Harper (born 22 September 2000) is a Kenyan professional footballer, who players as a left-back for side Exeter City and the Kenya national team.

Personal life

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Harper moved to England when he was a toddler. He holds a dual citizenship. His brother, Ashley, also joined the Bristol City youth ranks, though he dropped into non-league and now doesn't play football professionally.[2]

Club career

Bristol City

Harper joined Bristol City and progressed through their youth ranks. Impressing at under-16 level, he was promoted to the under-18s, where he scored two goals on debut.[3] Harper would sign his first professional contract in May 2019.[4] Following three loan spells, Harper was released at the end of the 2020–21 season.[5]

Loan spells

On 31 July 2019, Harper joined National League North side, Gloucester City on loan.[6] Harper would score one goal for the club, scoring a consolation goal in a 5–1 defeat to Spennymoor Town.[7] Harper would make 15 league appearances for Gloucester, before returning to Bristol in December.

On 10 December 2019, Harper joined Southern Football League side, Weston-super-Mare on a one-month loan deal.[8] Following the conclusion of the loan deal, Harper joined Bath City on a loan deal until the end of the season.[9] He was recalled 21 February 2020,[10] after only playing two games – a 1–0 victory to Concord Rangers,[11] and a 0–0 draw to Dorking Wanderers.[12]

Chippenham Town

On 20 August 2021, Harper joined National League North side, Chippenham Town, following a successful trial during pre-season.[13] He would make his league debut for Chippenham in a 1–0 victory to Slough Town.[14] Having only been at Chippenham for a month, Harper was subject to a seven-day approach from Eastleigh.[15]

Eastleigh

On 7 September 2021, Harper joined National League side, Eastleigh on a permanent deal.[16] Eastleigh had begun monitoring Harper after he impressed in his trial game at Chippenham, which was against Eastleigh.[17] Harper would make his debut in the next game, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute in a 1–1 draw to Barnet.[18] Quickly establishing himself as a starter, he would score his first goal for Eastleigh in a 3–3 draw against King's Lynn Town.[19] The struggling Eastleigh side would finish 19th, two places away from relegation, with Harper featuring in 36 games.

The following season, Harper would maintain his place in the starting eleven. Harper would come on as a 67th minute substitute against Scunthorpe United and score both goals in a 2–0 victory.[20] He would score again in the following league game – a 5–2 victory against Maidstone United.[21] Harper would feature 33 times in the league as Eastleigh finished ninth, two positions away from the play-offs.

Exeter City

On 21 June 2023, Harper would join League One side, Exeter City on a two-year deal with an option for an additional third year.[22] The signing was funded by the 1931 Fund, a group who pay money each month to raise around £15,000 to sign a player and part-fund them for a season.[23] Harper would make his debut for Exeter, coming on as a substitute in the 16th minute for the injured Demetri Mitchell, in a 3–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers.[24]

International career

Having been born in Kenya, but moving to England at a young age, Harper is eligible to play for both the Kenya national team and the England national team. In an interview in 2018, Harper said it would be a case of which football association asked him to represent first.[25] [26]

In March 2023, Harper was included in Paul Fairclough's provisional 25-man England C squad.[27] On 21 March 2023, he played the full 90 minutes in England C's 1–0 victory against Wales C.[28]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bristol City2019–20EFL Championship0000000000
2020–21EFL Championship0000000000
Total0000000000
Gloucester City (loan)2019–20National League North15100—00151
Weston-super-Mare (loan)2019–20[29] Southern Football League3000—0030
Bath City (loan)2019–20National League South2000—0020
Chippenham Town2021–22National League South3000—0030
Eastleigh2021–22National League36130—20411
2022–23National League33410—30374
Total69540—50785
Exeter City2023–24EFL League One271104010331
Career total11975040601347

References

  1. Web site: EFL: Squad list 2023/24 & U21 registered contract players . English Football League . 70 . 7 September 2023 . 19 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Ashley Harper . 19 September 2023 . Aylesbury United.
  3. Web site: 15 June 2017 . 10 October 2016 . Report: Watford U18s 0-2 Bristol City U18s . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220525025414/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-watford-u18s-0-2-bristol-city-u18s/ . 25 May 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Bristol City FC.
  4. Web site: 21 May 2019 . Mäenpää to remain in BS3 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221010092819/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/maeenpaeae-to-remain-in-bs3/ . 10 October 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Bristol City FC.
  5. Web site: 31 March 2021 . Contract options for young Robins . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528144529/https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/contract-options-for-young-robins/ . 28 May 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Bristol City FC.
  6. 1156535422648037376. GCAFCofficial. Transfer News: 2 more signings as Kieran Smith and Vincent Harper join. 31 July 2019. 19 September 2023.
  7. Web site: 26 October 2019 . Spennymoor Town 5 - 1 Gloucester City . 19 September 2023 . The National League.
  8. Web site: Drury . Liam . 10 December 2019 . HARPER ARRIVES AT THE OPTIMA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527041715/https://www.westonsmareafc.co.uk/harper-arrives-at-the-optima/ . 27 May 2022 . 19 September 2023 . www.westonsmareafc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: 9 January 2020 . Player News . https://web.archive.org/web/20200325190014/https://www.bathcityfc.com/player-news-54/ . 25 March 2020 . 19 September 2023 . Bath City FC.
  10. Web site: 21 February 2020 . Player News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919213808/https://www.bathcityfc.com/player-news-57/ . 19 September 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Bath City FC.
  11. Web site: 15 February 2020 . CONCORD RANGERS (0) 0 BATH CITY (1) 1 – SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2020 – VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – THE ASPECT ARENA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704055227/https://www.bathcityfc.com/concord-rangers-0-0-bath-city-1-1-saturday-15-february-2020-vanarama-national-league-south-the-aspect-arena/ . 4 July 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Bath City.
  12. Web site: 1 February 2020 . DORKING WANDERERS (0) 0 BATH CITY (0) 0 – VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2020 – MEADOWBANK STADIUM . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704055826/https://www.bathcityfc.com/dorking-wanderers-0-0-bath-city-0-0-vanarama-national-league-south-saturday-1-february-2020-meadowbank-stadium/ . 4 July 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Bath City FC.
  13. Web site: 20 August 2021 . PLAYER NEWS: Vincent Harper signs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329202854/https://chippenhamtown.com/player-news-vincent-harper-signs/ . 29 March 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Chippenham Town.
  14. Web site: 29 August 2021 . MATCH REPORT: Slough Town 0-1 Chippenham Town – Sat 28th Aug 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329195707/https://chippenhamtown.com/slough-town-0-1-chippenham-town-sat-28th-august-2021/ . 29 March 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Chippenham Town FC.
  15. Web site: 7 September 2021 . Latest Player Updates: Tuesday 7th September 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329184833/https://chippenhamtown.com/latest-player-updates-tuesday-7th-september-2021/ . 29 March 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Chippenham Town FC.
  16. Web site: NEW SIGNING VINCENT HARPER JOINS THE SPITFIRES . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220203053654/https://www.eastleighfc.com/new-signing-vincent-harper-joins-the-spitfires/ . 3 February 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Eastleigh FC.
  17. Web site: House . Alfie . 9 September 2021 . Eastleigh FC permanently sign ex-Bristol City Vince Harper . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220309020501/https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19570973.eastleigh-fc-permanently-sign-ex-bristol-city-vince-harper/ . 9 March 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Daily Echo.
  18. Web site: 11 September 2021 . Barnet 1 1 Eastleigh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208085954/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58445023 . 8 February 2023 . 19 September 2023 . BBC.
  19. Web site: 30 April 2022 . King's Lynn Town 3-3 Eastleigh . 19 September 2023 . Soccerway.
  20. Web site: Bunclark . Jack . REPORT EASTLEIGH 2-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED . 19 September 2023 . Eastleigh FC.
  21. Web site: James . Kieran . 10 November 2022 . Eastleigh beat 10 men Maidstone 5-2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221110134744/https://www.eastleighnews.co.uk/2022/11/eastleigh-beat-10-men-maidstone-5-2/ . 10 November 2022 . 19 September 2023 . Eastleigh News.
  22. Web site: 21 June 2023 . ✍️ Vincent Harper is a Grecian! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624190617/https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/vincent-harper-signs/ . 24 June 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Exeter City FC.
  23. Web site: 21 June 2023 . Vincent Harper to wear the Number 31 shirt! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705180619/https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/vincent-harper-1931 . 5 July 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Exeter City FC.
  24. Web site: 5 August 2023 . Match Report: Wycombe Wanderers 0 City 3 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230831090828/https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/wycombe-a/ . 31 August 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Exeter City FC.
  25. Web site: Ojumbe . Adhiambo . 25 January 2018 . Bristol City ace ready to feature for Harambee Stars . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919225349/https://hivisasa.com/posts/bristol-city-ace-ready-to-feature-for-harambee-stars . 19 September 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Hivisasa.
  26. Web site: 16 May 2022 . Budding Kenyan defender wins award in England . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919224923/https://www.mozzartsport.co.ke/football/news/budding-kenyan-defender-wins-award-in-england/16657 . 19 September 2023 . 19 September 2023 . Mozzart Sport.
  27. Web site: Forrester . Richard . 6 March 2023 . Former Bristol City academy prospect earns international call-up . 19 September 2023 . Bristol Post.
  28. Web site: 21 March 2023 . England C 1-0 Cymru C: Ryan De Havilland seals win for Three Lions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326022831/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/438228/england-c-1-0-cymru-c-ryan-de-havilland-seals-win-for-three-lions/ . 26 March 2023 . 19 September 2023 . The Non-League Football Paper.
  29. Web site: Vincent Harper . 19 September 2023 . Aylesbury United.

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