Joe Harper (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Joe Harper


fullname = Joseph Montgomery Harper
height =
nickname = King of the Beach End
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1948|1|11
cityofbirth = Greenock
countryofbirth = Scotland
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1966-1968
1968
1968-1969
1969-1972
1972-1974
1974-1976
1976-1981
clubs = Morton
Huddersfield
Morton
Aberdeen
Everton
Hibernian
Aberdeen
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1972-1978
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 0(2)
manageryears = 1981-1982
managerclubs = Peterhead

:"For other people called Joe Harper see Joseph Harper."

Joseph Montgomery Harper (born January 11 1948, in Greenock) was a Scottish footballer mainly remembered for his two spells with Aberdeen, during which he became the club's record goalscorer.

Club career

Harper started his professional career with home-town clubMorton, and returned to the club after a brief, unhappy spell with Huddersfield Town. He had at times a difficult relationship with some Morton supporters, but most fans recognised his ability and enthusiasm.

In 1969, Aberdeen manager Eddie Turnbull paid £40,000 to sign Harper for Aberdeen and in his first season with the "Dons" he helped them win the Scottish Cup for the second time in their history. Harper opened the scoring from the penalty spot as overwhelming pre-match favourites Celtic were defeated 3-1. He rapidly developed a reputation as a prodigious goalscorer and following a record-breaking haul of 33 goals in 34 league games in the 1971-72 season was the subject of much interest from English scouts.

Everton paid £180,000 for his services in December 1972 but his time in English football was not as productive as his Pittodrie spell and he returned to Scotland with Hibernian in early 1974, for the second time signed by Eddie Turnbull who had by this stage moved to Easter Road. Harper rediscovered his Aberdeen-era form in Edinburgh and scored a hat-trick in the 1975-76 League Cup final. However John "Dixie" Deans also scored a hat-trick that day, and Celtic defeated Hibs 6-3.

Harper returned to Aberdeen under Ally MacLeod for the start of the 1976-77 season in a £50,000 deal and inspired instant success, the "Dons" defeating Celtic 2-1 (after extra time) to win the League Cup in November. Harper made further final appearances in each of the next two seasons, as Aberdeen lost both the 1977-78 Scottish Cup final and the 1978-79 League Cup final to Rangers, by a scoreline of 2-1 on each occasion. By the 1979-80 season he was considered a veteran and no longer a regular in the "Dons" first team but his seven goals helped Aberdeen to their first league title since 1954-55. He left Pittodrie after only one appearance the following season.

In total Harper scored 199 competitive goals for Aberdeen, a club record. Of that total, 122 were scored in league fixtures, 70 in domestic cup games (including the Drybrough Cup) and 7 in European competition. His iconic status amongst Aberdeen supporters was recognised when he was amongst the first players to be inducted to the club's "Hall of Fame". Joe's notoriety with Aberdeen fans also earned him the title 'King of the Beach End'(traditional home end at Pittodrie).

International career

Harper first played for Scotland against Denmark in October 1972, scoring on his debut in a 4-1 win. He played in Scotland's next game but then fell out of the international reckoning, only earning a recall in 1975. By coincidence, the occasion was another away match with Denmark but this was overshadowed by a controversial off-field incident as Harper and several team-mates were involved in a disturbance at a Copenhagen night club Dubious|date=March 2008, leading the Scottish Football Association to issue him with a life ban from the national team. The ban was later lifted, and he was selected in the Scotland World Cup squad in 1978, appearing against Iran as Scotland exited in the first round.

Later life

In 1981 Harper was appointed manager of then Highland League side Peterhead. He helped the "Blue Toon" to a second place league finish but his reported wages were beyond the club's means and he was replaced for the 1982-83 season by former Pittodrie team-mate Dave Smith. [ [http://www.peterheadfc.org.uk/history/part6.shtml Peterhead Club History] , Official Peterhead website.] Harper can be heard on Aberdeen's Original 106 radio station as part of their sports team, providing coverage and analysis on Dons games, football in general and other sporting matters.Harper has also been a columnist for the Aberdeen Evening Express for the last 10 years. His hard hitting column appears every Wednesday.In 2008, Harper was preparing his autobiography, which was being written along with Evening Express sports editor Charlie Allan.

References

Bibliography

Harry Reid (2005), "The Final Whistle?", Birlinn, ISBN 1-84158-362-6

External links

* [http://www.sundayherald.com/print50141 Article on him] from the "Sunday Herald"
* [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=13586&CFID=1724017&CFTOKEN=61535397 Profile] at official Scottish FA website