James Harper (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = James Harper


fullname = James Alan John Harper
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|11|9|df=yes
cityofbirth = Chelmsford
countryofbirth = England
height = 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Reading
clubnumber = 15
contractend = 1 July 2010
youthyears =
youthclubs = Arsenal
years = 2000–2001
2000–2001
2001–
clubs = Arsenal
→ Cardiff City (loan)
Reading
caps(goals) = 000 0(0)
003 0(0)
275 (24)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 20:12, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

James Alan John Harper (born 9 November 1980 in Chelmsford, Essex, England) is a professional footballer playing in central midfield for Reading in the Championship.

Football

Club career

Harper started his career as a trainee with Arsenal, but as his first team opportunities were limited, he first went on loan to Cardiff City, before signing permanently for Reading for an undisclosed fee, said to be "a substantial six-figure fee" on 28 February 2001. [cite news | date=2001-02-28 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/1194426.stm | title=Royals swoop for Harper | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] After helping Reading to win the 2005–06 Championship, and thus win promotion to the Premier League, he scored his first Premiership goals for Reading in a clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park, scoring twice despite losing 3-2. [cite news | date=2006-12-06 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6201436.stm | title=Newcastle 3-2 Reading | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2006-12-11]

On 4 July 2007, Harper signed an improved three year contract to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2009-10 season. [cite news | date=2007-07-04 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1067116,00.html | title=Four new contracts agreed | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-07-04]

International career

Harper rejected the chance to go to the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Ghana, saying: "I've never even been to Ghana." He would have qualified to play for Ghana because his mother was born there. [cite news | date=2006-04-27 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/4951914.stm | title=Harper rejects World Cup chance | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2006-05-26]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~9636,00.html James Harper profile] at readingfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|23738|James Harperhttp://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1290710,00.html

Persondata
NAME=Harper, James Alan John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=9 November 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH=Chelmsford
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=