Steve Harper’s tearful departure from the Magpies after 20 years

This weekend marks ten years since he made his last emotional appearance, but in his 20 years he only made 157 league first-team appearances, having signed from local side Seaham Red Star in 1993 when he defeated Pavel Srnicek , Shaka Hislop, Shay Given and finally Tim Krul, all before him.

England women’s captain Gill Coultard and Steve Harper at their former college in East Durham in 1998

In his early days at St James, he was on loan at Bradford City, Gateshead, Stockport County, Hartlepool United and Huddersfield Town, leading to his eventual first-team debut in 1998 when he came on as a half-time substitute against Wimbledon had managed the rare feat of appearing in each of the top five divisions in English football.

Highlights of his time at St James’ included an FA Cup final against Manchester United in 1999, which Newcastle lost 2-0.

In 2002 he made several appearances in the UEFA Champions League and kept a clean sheet as the Magpies beat Italian giants Juventus 1-0 at home, helping Newcastle qualify from the group stage of the Champions League.

In June 2006, he expressed his desire to play football in the first team to manager Glenn Roeder, and Roeder prompted him to sign a contract that kept him at St James until 2009.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper celebrates United’s victory over Turkish side Fenerbahce in their UEFA Cup match at St James’ Park October 19, 2006

An injury to Shay Given early in the 2006–07 season gave Steve another first-team opportunity. On 20 September 2006 he played against Liverpool in what was his first Premier League appearance in 15 months. He put in some excellent performances back then, most notably a wonderful save against Manchester City in early November.

Later that season, Shay Given’s third injury meant he kept a clean sheet against Chelsea, a feat matched by only two other goalkeepers. It was also the first time since 2001 that he played in consecutive games.

At the start of the 2007/08 season, when Sam Allardyce was manager and Newcastle were still playing in the Premier League, he played in the first six games of the season and kept two clean sheets.

In January 2009 he signed a new contract that would keep him at St James’ until 2012. When Shay Given joined Manchester City, Steve became the Magpies’ first-choice goalkeeper at the age of 33.

With Newcastle in the 2009/10 Championship he produced some great performances, holding a club record 21 clean sheets, conceding just 35 league goals on less than a goal per game, and on 6 March 2010 he scored his 50th. Consecutive goal Started in the 6-1 win against Barnsley, the longest consecutive league game of his career.

The subsequent re-promotion to the Premier League was one of the highlights of his career.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper tearfully bids farewell to fans after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James’ Park

Steve’s last first-team appearance for Newcastle was in a Premier League home game against Arsenal, ten years ago on Sunday 19 May 2013, when he was named captain of the day on an emotional afternoon while his father looked on in the stands.

The 38-year-old, who wore the number 37 jersey while Tim Krul wore the number 1, said: “I was swaying. When I saw my father just before we left, he was said to have been a miner for 30 years.” hard as nails, but he also wobbled, and that bothered me.

“(Lukas) Podolski then refused me the family allowance, and that got me out of there.

“The lads gave me a presentation afterwards and I told them that at this club that’s what you get if you do your best. I don’t have half the skills of some players in this dressing room, but I’ve always done my best.

“It’s a heavy shirt and a great club to play for if you can handle that.”

Unfortunately, Arsenal spoiled the party when Laurent Koscielny scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute, putting Newcastle in 16th place in the Premier League and manager Alan Pardew seeking talks with owner Mike Ashley and manager Derek Llambias. Arsenal, on the other hand, secured Champions League football for the 16th consecutive year.

Newcastle: Harper, Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa (Campbell 80), Tiote, Cabaye (Anita 57), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran (Marveaux 65).