[1] Harris has been described as an extremely hard player in the mode of Kevin Moran or Paul McGrath and like his Shelbourne, Everton and Ireland teammate, Bill Lacey, he was also very versatile, covering just about every outfield position during his career.

Harris is one of several prominent Dublin Gaelic footballers who successfully switched codes to soccer; others have included Jack Kirwan, Con Martin, Joseph Ledwidge and Kevin Moran.

In May 1904 he had a trial with West Bromwich Albion but then returned to Shelbourne and made his Irish League debut in a 3–1 defeat to Glentoran on 17 September 1904 at Serpentine Avenue, Dublin.

With Harris in the team, Everton regularly challenged for top honours, twice finishing as League runners-up (1908–09 and 1911–12) as well as reaching the semi-final stage in the 1910 FA Cup.

His teammates at Everton included fellow Irish internationals Billy Scott and Bill Lacey, who had followed Harris from Shelbourne in February 1909.

Harris remained a prominent member of the Shelbourne team well passed his fortieth birthday and his second spell at the club saw him play alongside Bill Lacey, Bob Fullam, Ed Brookes and Louis Bookman.

Despite suffering a number of severe injuries related to his robust style of play, Harris was remarkably consistent in his appearances for Ireland and he featured in a run of thirteen consecutive internationals between 1908 and 1912.

The words proved inspiring as an Irish team that included Alex Stevenson, Mick O'Brien, Jimmy Kelly and Paddy Moore won 2–0.