Pilko Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Now that we've won, it's nice for him to get a farewell game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Deserving of a testimonial for this match alone. Simply for not mucking it up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Delighted for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 When he casually left Townsend's shot to go over. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sifu Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 His 199th NUFC appearance today. 200th next week. Have to say I'm pleased for him. Will be an emotional day for him, for sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 I've always liked Harper and in a way I'm glad he can claim that his clean sheet helped keep us up, it's a pity his last game could be a mauling against Arsenal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 World-class performance today. Well done Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newcastle Fan Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 i'm quite glad he's going to get one final game at SJP before he retires. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Hope he puts on a clinic against Arsenal. Whips off his kit to reveal a big 200 tattooed on his chest, flips-off the crowd, and walks down the tunnel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 His 199th NUFC appearance today. 200th next week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 His 199th NUFC appearance today. 200th next week. Nice, like Shearer's last game scoring against the Mackems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 That's class for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 200 appearances in that time is ridiculous like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 200 appearances in 20 years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 940 appearances for Giggs in about the same time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 When he casually left Townsend's shot to go over. even on the third replay I was still convinced it was in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocker Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 New contract! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stottie Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Aye good to see him get a run out next week. Not that I expect much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_Taylor Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 When he casually left Townsend's shot to go over. Casually. He knew he was fucked if it was on target Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benwell Lad Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 "Luckily for us we had Harps, who came on as if it was a Sunday afternoon and he was going down the pub with his dog. That calmed everybody. It certainly calmed me down.” Pardew's words regarding Harper coming on at such a crucial time on Sunday. It strikes a note with me and a few others I go to the match with as we've always joked about Harper's cool nonchalance in pressure situations. I really think his intelligence and calm demeanour could be an asset around SJP in some capacity for another season or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Seems as if he suffered from depression earlier in his career, according to article in Times tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Aye, in the Souness era. Probably wasn't the only one Meant to be some cracking interviews coming out tomorrow, hope he has a great managerial career. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I'd imagine it was round about the time he started refereeing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I'd love him to go and have a swansong season in the Championship and then come back in some sort of coaching, backroom or development role. A great bloke and a great servant to the football club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Moody Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/steve-harper-interview-newcastles-keeper-1893226 Black and white: Steve Harper on joys of 20 years at Newcastle and his secret battle with depression 16 May 2013 22:30 “There have been many highs, but dark times too” admits keeper who will finally move on after Sunday's farewell game against Arsenal Agony uncle: Harper is a shoulder for team-mates to cry on after his own struggles John Peters Steve Harper vividly recalls the moment he became a Newcastle United player. Kevin Keegan turned up at his family home “in yellow shell-suit bottoms” and handed the young Seaham Red Star keeper a one-year contract. A place at John Moores University, Liverpool was deferred for a year. Eighteen years (and 12 Newcastle managers) later, Harper will play his last game for the Toon against Arsenal on Sunday - a front-line witness to the unique chaos, and joy, that Newcastle United serves up. The highs of title challenges, FA Cup finals (ultimately unfulfilled), Champions League nights and promotion; the lows of relegation, a string of managerial sackings and, on Thursday, a brave admission. Harper, 38, revealed he spent “dark days” battling depression a few years ago, and needed medication and counselling to overcome his slump. That will surprise many. Harper is a rock of the dressing room, the life and soul of the club in many ways, and a player whose wit and anecdotes about the likes of Sir Bobby Robson bring the house down at talk-ins around the North-East. But he explained: “There have been many highs. But yes, there were those wilderness years. “There was a time when Graeme Souness was here and I was struggling, really struggling. Some good people at the club helped me through it. But there were some dark times.” Asked what he meant by dark days, he replied: “It seems to be a bit more open about these things now, but I probably was a little bit depressed back in that time. “When you have a good club like this and you have been part of it for a long time it is only right that players admit to suffering. “I was probably about 30 at the time, and it was really tough. You need help. You can’t fight it yourself. You have to speak to people and get help. That is what I did. Kevin Keegan Eighteen years later... Harper initially signed for just one pre-university season under Keegan Action “There have been times when it has been anything but comfortable. “The way I got through it was through the support of my family, particularly Lynsey, my wife, by going to see a little old lady, a counsellor, and with medication from the doctors. “It helps you through it, because it was very tough and the more you try to fight it yourself, it gets a hold of you. “Fortunately, more people are speaking of it now and it is almost more acceptable. “But yeah, seven or eight years ago, having had that tough time, I like to keep an eye on players now who I think are maybe struggling. “As an older pro, many's the time I have gone up to somebody who I think might be struggling and said, 'Are you alright?' And they have gone, 'Yeah, yeah', and I've responded: “No. Are you alright...' “I've said to them, 'Listen, I had a hard time once, let me know if you are struggling because I am here for you.'" But Harper wants to be remembered for happier moments. He’s had spells as Newcastle's No1, sparring with Shay Given for years over being first choice, and in recent times anchored the side that won a return to the Premier League. His favourite memories include the 1-0 Champions League win over Juventus 10 years ago, and the promotion season where he regards the “dressing room spirit” as the strongest he’s witnessed. Best manager? “I’ve had 18 here. if you include caretakers! It’s too many. "If you turn off the tape-recorders, I could tell you about them. "The differences in them are vast. For me, I think the best managers are the good man-managers. I am doing my coaching badges and if that is something that I am going to go into, then I have a very big pool of knowledge to pick from. In fact, it is a big shark-infested pool!” Best player? “Easy, that would have to be Alan Shearer, he was just amazing. His goals, he was always the toughest opponent in training. Daftest player? "Steven Taylor would be up there. So would Tino Asprilla." Favourite save? "I made one on my debut against Middlesbrough, from Brian Deane. The ball had bounced and I got it over the bar, but it was pretty much all downhill from there! A couple away at Sheffield United were very important in the Championship season.” So why didn’t Harper leave after Given secured the No1 spot? He’d surely have been first-choice elsewhere. “I probably blame Sir Bobby, to be honest. I remember rapping on his door many a time and asking for a move and he said, 'I need you, Shay might get injured.' “He had that persuasive, loveable thing where you might enter the room like a bear with a sore head and leave it giving him a hug!” Sir Bobby Robson in February 2008 (Pic:Getty) Magic: Bobby Robson talked Harper out of leaving more than once Harper has similar qualities. On Sunday he will have his kids James, nine, Olivia, seven, and Leo, two, as team mascots, and you wouldn’t bet against tears being shed. If he could leave a message daubed on the dressing-room wall to help fill the hole he will leave at the club, what would it be? Harper concluded: “Just 'Give it your all, day in day out.' “At this club, the people - the fans and everyone - know if you’ve put the shift in, day in day out, and given your all out on the pitch. They’ll back you to the hilt. “It’s a great club to play for, but it can be a difficult club to play for. It can be a heavy shirt, the Newcastle shirt, and you need to stand up and be counted.” Steve Harper did just that in good times, and bad. Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/steve-harper-interview-newcastles-keeper-1893226#ixzz2TUzHhMoB Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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