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.
He became player-manager for brief spells at Port Vale, Waterford (Ireland), Sudbury Town and Chelmsford City, before entering the building trade.
[5] He turned professional under manager Bill McGarry, and helped the "Blues" to rise to fifth in 1966–67, before finishing top of the division in 1967–68.
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.
[10] 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.
[2] An inquest revealed that he died from an asbestos-related disease, having been exposed to asbestos whilst working as an apprentice joiner and carpenter before he took up his football career.