 After beginning his career with Eltham Town he went on to play in the Football League for Queens Park Rangers, Walsall, Northampton Town and Milton Keynes Dons.He finished his career as a player-manager at Conference National side Kettering Town.Born in Chelsea, London, Harper started his career at non-League club Eltham Town, signing for Sittingbourne after featuring against them, before being signed by Arsenal in June 1994.