Very good news today that Steve Harper has returned to Newcastle to take up a role as the goalkeeping coach at the Newcastle Academy.
Well, it’s difficult to keep Steve away from Newcastle after he spent 20 years at the club having been signed from Seaham Red Star – his home town club – back in 1993 when Kevin Keegan was the manager.
Steve Harper when at Newcastle
Here’s the announcement just made by Newcastle.
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Newcastle United’s longest serving player, Steve Harper, has been appointed as the Club’s new Academy goalkeeping coach.
The stopper spent 20 years at St. James’ Park between 1993 and 2013, making 199 appearances and representing the Magpies in the FA Cup final, Champions League, UEFA Cup and Europa League as well as domestic games.
Following his release from Tyneside, Harper spent time at Hull City and Sunderland, but has returned home to start the next step of his career.
At the Club’s Little Benton Academy, the 41-year-old will work with goalkeepers from under-nine to under-16 level out on the training pitch, as well as helping to create a programme that develops the youngsters in a consistent manner that meets the philosophy of Newcastle United.
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Steve gets in on the ground floor and he will be working for one of the best managers in the world in Rafa Benitez.
This is what Steve said on the appointment:
“I’m delighted to be working with the young goalkeepers at the Academy,”
“I’ve been involved in grassroots football in the area for the last six years so I have extensive knowledge of the many junior football clubs throughout the region.”
“It’s great to be back at the Club in a coaching capacity and I’m looking forward to starting.”
When Steve left Newcastle in the summer of 2013 he played for Steve Bruce at Hull City for a couple of years, but has been a free agent over the summer and although he received some offers he’s decided to hang up his gloves and come back home.
Harper is still a young 41 and he played 199 times for the Newcastle first team and 31 times at Hull and earlier appearances when he was young on loan at Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County and Hartlepool.
He also played 5 times on loan at Brighton in early 2012 and he was at Sunderland last season but he never appeared in the first team; in total he played 289 first team games in his career.
It’s great to have Steve back and passing on his expertise to the youngsters at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
50 comments so far
Cyrus Varten
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Comment #1Looks like Sebastien Haller is not coming to us. He was the one I was really excited for. What’s the backup plan??
http://www.infeature.com/newcastle-united-transfer-target-sebastien-haller-moving-to-sporting-lisbon/
ToonRich
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:43 PM
Comment #2Back up plan = Mario B!!
sing in the corner
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:45 PM
Comment #3I have always liked Steve Harper the bloke, but he seems a very laid back, almost soft as clarts kind of bloke. Suppose time will tell wether he can do both sides of coaching / motivating required..
Jail for Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:49 PM
Comment #4Should never have left!
Belfast
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Comment #5Ballotelli is a complete waster. I usually enjoy his antics but I wouldn’t find them funny if he was playing for us.
bettyswallocks
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:58 PM
Comment #6Gorgonzola…… Why would we want Balotelli other than as a disruptive influence. Sounds like a suggestion a dirty Mackem would make.
Perhaps you should change your monicker to Bell end cheese.
Blackley and Brownlie
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Comment #7Belfast
I agree. Big time over-rated Charlie.
Pat On The Heed
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #8Jail. Going back to the radio phone in. I expected your voice to be deep and manly, I was surprised how feminine and high pitched it is in real life. Hope you don’t mind me saying.
nut meg
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Comment #9Delighted for Steve Harper, I wish him well & hope everything works out for him & the kids in the academy.
sing in the corner
Harper was one of the players committee who were very vocal in the dressing room along with Nolan, Barton & smith so I doubt he would be a soft touch.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #10carl,
No worries, at least it’s just one voice I’ve got.
Rafa Revolution
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:11 PM
Comment #11According to the Chronic we are after Victor Moses
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:19 PM
Comment #12Cyrus
according to reports….
Newcastle United have opened talks with FC Utrecht over Sebastian Haller, according to The Chronicle.
The striker is valued at around £6m by the Dutch club over the French Under-21 international. He has scored 35 goals in 57 appearances since joining the Eriedivisie side in January 2015 – initially on loan – from Auxerre. He won their supporters Player of the Year award that season.
Rafa Revolution
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Comment #13Charlie do you think they will take De Jong in part exchange?
Jail for Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #14Rafa,
Which part of SDJ still works though?
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:30 PM
Comment #15Jail
You’re right which part!!!!!
Rafa Revolution
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:33 PM
Comment #16Jail probably his Wheelchair
hibbitt
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #17jail / rafa
his zimmer frame it has less moving parts !!
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:55 PM
Comment #18Balotelli could be explosive too….
I really hang issue with him, if he hits form….
Munster Mag
Aug 18, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Comment #19delighted, one of our own.
Jail for Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:00 PM
Comment #20gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
While the vast majority last night were angry and upset after we conceded a penalty you chose to put a smiley face and type ha ha. Why?
toontaff2
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:04 PM
Comment #21Steve must have his own seat on the bench after 20 years of service on it!
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Comment #22_______________Sels_______________
Gamez__Mbemba___Hanley__Dummet
________Hayden___Shelvey
Ritchie_______Perez__________Aarons
_____________Gayle
My team for Saturday, although wouldn’t be surprised to see Colback in for Shelvey.
Tell Aarons to stay wide, beat his man and whip crosses in. Like Perez, tends to complicate matters.
PJ
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Comment #23Steve had opportunities to go and play first team football but decided to stop with us and compete with shay given who to be fair was one of the best keepers in the premisrship at the time. Been serious I remember when seaman retired from England, and for years we had clamity James. Paul Robinson and Ben forster. All good goalkeeper but had a mistake in them, if Steve moved club he certainly would of had a cap for England or at the very least been in a squad in my opioinon but turned it down to sit on the bench for Newcastle United. Don’t get me wrong Steve was never world class but he was reliable unlike some of the England keepers I just mentioned
Thump
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Comment #24Welcome home, Harps.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:36 PM
Comment #25If we’re talking about GKs.
Sels, although in my line-up has yet to look anything other than mediocre. Just hoping it’s a settling in issue.
Strange starting with him given how Darlow finished last season, seemed to grow, also his understanding with Lascelles helped them both I think.
Our Toon
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:37 PM
Comment #26Over the moon about the result last night, not arsed about the performance. Away to Bristol will be very tough, they’ve started well. Hayden did well as did shelvey but we did get overrun at times centrally….not long till the window closes, if tiote doesn’t leave then he should be used
WWSBRD
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:38 PM
Comment #27Harps is home! Glorious! Genuinely happy with this, our keepers got notably worse when Harps left imo
Our Toon
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:39 PM
Comment #28Hail
I think Darlow is just as poor, people for some reason have forgotten the goals he could have prevented, wba error lead to a loss. Norwich error lead to a loss at a key time as well, dived past the shot for 2nd goal. Spurs error didn’t cost us anything but how did they score from that position? Still beyond me, we have 2 keepers that look poor
Elliott and Krul are still our best keepers
WWSBRD
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:40 PM
Comment #29gorgon being called a mackem?
WWSBRD
Aug 18, 2016 at 6:41 PM
Comment #30Our Toon
U slate Darlow then say Elliott is a good keeper?
nufc786
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:07 PM
Comment #31Christian Benteke: Crystal Palace reach agreement for Liverpool striker
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37125194
there are also rumors of Loic Remy joining them too
If this goes through, what would people think of trying to sign Connor Whickam? Proven in the Championship
nufc786
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #32to some extent
Our Toon
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:19 PM
Comment #33Wwsbrd
Yes compared to Darlow he is a better keeper, Elliott was one of our standout performers last season.
I also think Janmaat is pants and the root cause of most problems defensively, Anita is by far a better option….another thing we don’t agree with!!
Jail for Ashley
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:26 PM
Comment #34I’d have Whickham on loan or swap him with Sissoko for 25M
matt11_25
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:28 PM
Comment #35The evaluations of why Dummet and why Janmaat are awful by bloggers on here and that fact they occur in the same place and time is so ironic/contradictory
toon kk
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:32 PM
Comment #36I never saw the game last night, great to get a win and get our season underway.
How did we actually play, pundits said it was a less than convincing performance.
We must have done something right to win 4-1
WWSBRD
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:35 PM
Comment #37Our Toon
Ok then, Elliott is poor though he’s also the main reason Kruls development went backwards imo
Jib
Aug 18, 2016 at 7:38 PM
Comment #38https://twitter.com/steveharper37
toon kk
Aug 18, 2016 at 8:00 PM
Comment #39Krul is a very good keeper for us, Elliott was our stand out player until he picked up his injury last season.
We really miss either of them, we aren’t the same without them.
Tonytoon73
Aug 18, 2016 at 8:01 PM
Comment #40Harper where was he at the end of last season