Kevin Harper on his love for Portsmouth, fans' stick, winning over the Fratton faithful and how he'd love to make a Blues return

Kevin Harper always refers back to the same mindset when asked about his playing andmanagerial career: hard work and perseverance.
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In an interview with Frederick Webb from the Portsmouth fan podcast, PO4cast, Harper – who made 119 appearances for Pompey between 2000-2004 – said he always relied on his work ethic to gain the support and admiration of his team-mates and the Fratton faithful.

He said: ‘It costs nothing to work hard. That has always been my ethnic, and by the end of the title-winning season, the fans understood that.

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‘They understood that, although I might not be the best player on the team, they would know I was one of the hardest workers on the team.

‘Although I got a bit of stick, I still loved playing for the club and the fans.

‘I probably had a few arguments with fans while being on the pitch. But, hey, that’s the way it goes!’

Harper was a mainstay in the 2002-2003 first division-winning side, playing primarily as a left-wing back.

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In a star-studded line-up, alongside Paul Merson, Yakubu, Steve Stone and Svetoslav Todorov, he was never deemed the most glamorous player on the pitch.

Kevin Harper sees a shot blocked by QPR keeper Lee Harper during the 2000-01 season.Kevin Harper sees a shot blocked by QPR keeper Lee Harper during the 2000-01 season.
Kevin Harper sees a shot blocked by QPR keeper Lee Harper during the 2000-01 season.

But his tireless effort, pace and excellent dribbling kept him in manager Harry Redknapp’s plans throughout the season.

His most memorable moment, in a game at Walsall, showcased Harper’s talents – dribbling past the home defence from the halfway line to score in a 2-1 victory. It was a result which saw the Blues finish top of the First Division with 98 points.

Even with that ability, Harper had to win some of the fans over at first.

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He remembers being booed at Fratton Park as his name was being announced before kick-off.

Kevin HarperKevin Harper
Kevin Harper

Harper was understandably disappointed, but hearing the supporters sing his name as he lifted the First Division title turned an unpleasant memory into his greatest achievement in football.

‘They had every right to voice their opinion, but for me, it was about the team knowing what I brought, and what the manager knew that I brought, he said.

‘Sometimes fans don’t see and understand that. It was disappointing, you never want to hear your name being booed as it’s read out before you’ve even kicked a ball.

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‘But I was able to turn the fans around and, hear them singing my name by the end of the season, it showed they understand football and appreciate what I had done.

Kevin Harper celebrates scoring against Barnsley on the final day of the 2000-01 season at Fratton Park.  Picture: Phil Cole/ALLSPORTKevin Harper celebrates scoring against Barnsley on the final day of the 2000-01 season at Fratton Park.  Picture: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT
Kevin Harper celebrates scoring against Barnsley on the final day of the 2000-01 season at Fratton Park. Picture: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT

‘It was more about me than them. I knew what I was bringing to the team.

‘It might not have looked pretty, or easy on the eye, but if you ask anyone, they knew I would give 100 per cent whether I played good, bad or indifferent, and I would always work my socks off for the team.

‘Winning the division with Portsmouth was my greatest achievement in football, which I why I have the winner’s medal tattooed on my arm.’

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Harper had no choice but to remain perseverant to achieve his ambitions and dreams.

Growing up in Possilpark, Glasgow – which he described as the drug capital of Europe back then – the Scot was one of only three black kids in the area.

He got his big break when he signed for Hibernian in 1992, after being spotted by then manager Alex Miller, at an amateur tournament.

Kevin Harper, right, with Paul Merson.  Picture: Nick PottsKevin Harper, right, with Paul Merson.  Picture: Nick Potts
Kevin Harper, right, with Paul Merson. Picture: Nick Potts

It came two weeks before his 16th birthday.

Determined to prove himself, he used to get up at 6am every morning to travel to training, from Glasgow to Edinburgh, sometimes getting home at 7pm.

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This commitment never faltered, even at such a young age, as he knew he was fulfilling his childhood dreams.

Harper said: ‘I just really enjoyed playing football, the things that came with it.

‘I still get embarrassed by the adulation when people get you to sign something, because I’m just a little guy from a tough neighbourhood in Glasgow that was fortunate enough to have a talent.’

After playing 97 times for Hibs, and having fleeting spells at Derby and Walsall, Harper was brought to Fratton Park by Tony Pulis in 2000.

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And it wasn’t until then that the former Scotland under-21 international said he felt like he fully understood what it was like to be a professional footballer.

For a while, he harboured some regrets over his career, saying he could have achieved more with his talent.

‘But playing for the Blues made him cast those doubts aside.

‘Being a kid at Hibs, I didn’t really look at is as anything, not having any pressure, added Harper.

‘I was just going out and enjoying it.

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‘That was a fantastic time for me. I look back on my career and I’m really humbled how much I got, but with a tinge of sadness that I could have done more.

‘But if I had done more at that time, I might not have never went to Portsmouth. That is how highly I regard the club.

‘I would have really missed something super. I would have missed the fans and never would have known them.

‘But, fortunately, the football gods took me there.’

The Glaswegian survived relegation with Pompey on the last day of the season in 2001, before being part of an era of change under Redknapp.

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Harper, along with Nigel Quashie, Gary O’Neil and Linvoy Primus, were the only players to play regularly from the previous regime.

The now 44-year-old explained that, along with the other retained players, he had to step up to be a part of a changing team.

He revealed: ‘It was a totally different dynamic.

‘The players who stayed from last season all felt we had to move at a different level of play.

‘We were the four that really stepped up to the plate and took the next step.

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‘I didn’t think at my time at Pompey that I would ever be on the same pitch as Steve Stone, Merse (Paul Merson), Yakubu, Tim Sherwood, Gianluca Festa, I could go through the whole team.

‘The recruitment was fantastic and we had a real team spirit of, if they’re going to score three, then we’ll score four.’

‘Harry brought a different mentality and made everyone feel like they were the best players on the planet.’

Harper was keen to give a special mention to Merson, who captained the side and whose performances earned him a place in the Pompey hall of fame, despite only playing for one season.

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The now Albion Rovers boss said: ‘Harry bringing Merse in was an absolute masterstroke, I don’t think anybody in their wildest dreams would have imagined the impact he had on that team.

‘Playing in the same team as him was a real privilege and honour, and the fact that it was for Portsmouth makes it even better.’

Even with these fond memories, Harper never had it all his own way.

He had to play through injuries and fan toxicity.

Throughout most of the 2002-03 season, the Scot played through a double hernia.

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He explained it was to show his commitment to the team and to Redknapp, who trusted him by retaining his services that season.

Harper said: ‘I just wanted to play.

‘Whether we were in a promotion race, or not, I would have still wanted to play and make myself available until I physically couldn’t.

‘That season I was on more anti-inflammatories than I probably should have took, but that was showing the players and staff my dedication to the team and club.’

This dedication would eventually turn the expectant Pompey fans around.

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Harper said support from his fellow players and the manager helped him get past the criticism and change the fans’ minds.

‘If you’re playing at Fratton Park, the fans expect you to work hard, run, head, tackle and give your all,’ he explained.

‘They can deal with you losing, but it’s the way that you lose. If you’re giving effort, I don’t think the fans will get onto you.

‘They can have their favourites. I certainly was not one of them when I was getting booed, they probably wanted to see somebody else.

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‘But by the end of the season, I was one of their favourite players by what I brought to the team.

‘If your team-mates know what you’re doing, it gives you that security when you’re not playing well.

‘We can all play bad – I’ve played many times before. But if you don’t give that work-rate, and you’re playing badly, then it’s an issue.

‘You can still run, you can still try, you can still tackle. And if you do that, people will be more forgiving.’

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Harper asks this of his players when they play for him at Albion Rovers – a club he has managed since November 2018.

The Scottish League Two side were the first team to give Harper a managerial interview.

After 40 job applications and three years of frustration and rejections, he became the first black manager in Scottish football for 15 years when he was appointed.

He credits the support of his wife for keeping him in football.

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Harper said: ‘After five or 10 rejections, you doubt if you’re really going to get there.

‘If it was not for her, I wouldn’t be a manager right now, and I probably wouldn’t be interested in football.

‘That would have been a waste, I feel like I have a lot to give in football.’

Similar to his Pompey career, Harper has had to deal with struggles, and even tragedy at Rovers.

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Six games before the end of the 2018-2019 season, with the club favourites to be relegated, the team’s goalkeeping coach, Michael Duke, passed away – a day after speaking to Harper about the players supporting him and buying into his philosophy.

‘He was so good. When I came into training a little bid down, he was the one who always brought us up,’ Harper said.

‘He was the catalyst for us surviving relegation.’

To commemorate Duke’s service to Rovers, Harper had the lyrics from Candi Staton’s “You got the Love” tattooed on his arm.

It was the song the devastated manager heard after receiving the news of Duke’s passing, and it stands as a reminder that he has the strength to get through anything.

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Harper still keeps an eye on Pompey, even though he now lives in his native Scotland.

He said he never wanted to leave the Blues and wished he could have stayed there for the rest of his career.

If given the chance to return to Fratton Park as one of the backroom staff, Harper said he wouldn’t have any doubts.

He said: ‘I don’t even have to think about it. That is something which could be the pinnacle of my management career if I could ever go back to Portsmouth in any capacity, to work with the club and see where we could go.

‘The potential that Portsmouth have is immense.

‘I’ve been there, I know what the fans want.

‘If I didn’t have enough money for the train to get there, I’d get my walking shoes on.’

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