Colin Harper

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.

Town finished fourth in 1972–73 and 1973–74. 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. Ipswich dropped to sixth in 1975–76, before rising again to third-place in 1976–77, five points behind champions Liverpool.

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. 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. 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. He gave up playing three months later due to arthritis in his knee, though he stayed on at the club as manager. 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. In May 2002, it was reported by the Ipswich Star that he had £7,000 worth of tools stolen from his van in Ipswich.

Career statistics Playing statistics

Managerial statistics + Managerial record by team and tenure

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