Background
Harper was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Harper was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
He began his football career with Walsall Wood before joining Small Heath of the Football League First Division in 1904. Towards the end of the 1906-1907 season he moved on to Burton United, but never played for the league team, and left for Aston Villa when Burton failed to gain re-election to the Football League. Harper played only twice for Villa before being sold together with Jimmy Cantrell to N ottinghamshire County in March 1908.
After making only ten league appearances in two seasons he dropped into non-league football with Mansfield Invicta.
Harper died in Birmingham in August 1949 at the age of 68.