Vincent Harper

Vincent McDyess Harper (born 22 September 2000) is an English-Kenyan professional footballer, who players as a left-back for Exeter City.

Vincent Harper
Personal information
Full name Vincent McDyess Harper[1]
Date of birth (2000-09-22) 22 September 2000
Place of birth Nairobi, Kenya
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Exeter City
Number 31
Youth career
–2019 Bristol City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Bristol City 0 (0)
2019 → Gloucester City (loan) 15 (1)
2019 → Weston-super-Mare (loan) ? (?)
2020 → Bath City (loan) 2 (0)
2021 Chippenham Town 3 (0)
2021–2023 Eastleigh 69 (5)
2023– Exeter City 6 (0)
International career‡
2023 England C 1 (0)
2023– Kenya 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:45, 19 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:58, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Personal life

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Harper moved to England when he was a toddler. He holds a dual citizenship.[2] His brother, Ashley, also joined the Bristol City youth ranks, though he dropped into non-league and now doesn't play football professionally.[3]

Club career

Bristol City

Harper joined Bristol City and progressed through their youth ranks. Impressing at under-16 level, he was promoted to the under-18s, where he scored two goals on debut.[4] Harper would sign his first professional contract in May 2019.[5] Following three loan spells, Harper was released at the end of the 2020–21 season.[6]

Loan spells

On 31 July 2019, Harper joined National League North side, Gloucester City on loan.[7] Harper would score one goal for the club, scoring a consolation goal in a 5–1 defeat to Spennymoor Town.[8] Harper would make 15 league appearances for Gloucester, before returning to Bristol in December.

On 10 December 2019, Harper joined Southern Football League side, Weston-super-Mare on a one-month loan deal.[9] Following the conclusion of the loan deal, Harper joined Bath City on a loan deal until the end of the season.[10] He was recalled 21 February 2020,[11] after only playing two games – a 1–0 victory to Concord Rangers,[12] and a 0–0 draw to Dorking Wanderers.[13]

Chippenham Town

On 20 August 2021, Harper joined National League North side, Chippenham Town, following a successful trial during pre-season.[14] He would make his league debut for Chippenham in a 1–0 victory to Slough Town.[15] Having only been at Chippenham for a month, Harper was subject to a seven-day approach from Eastleigh.[16]

Eastleigh

On 7 September 2021, Harper joined National League side, Eastleigh on a permanent deal.[17] Eastleigh had begun monitoring Harper after he impressed in his trial game at Chippenham, which was against Eastleigh.[18] Harper would make his debut in the next game, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute in a 1–1 draw to Barnet.[19] Quickly establishing himself as a starter, he would score his first goal for Eastleigh in a 3–3 draw against King's Lynn Town.[20] The struggling Eastleigh side would finish 19th, two places away from relegation, with Harper featuring in 36 games.

The following season, Harper would maintain his place in the starting eleven. Harper would come on as a 67th minute substitute against Scunthorpe United and score both goals in a 2–0 victory.[21] He would score again in the following league game – a 5–2 victory against Maidstone United.[22] Harper would feature 33 times in the league as Eastleigh finished ninth, two positions away from the play-offs.

Exeter City

On 21 June 2023, Harper would join League One side, Exeter City on a two-year deal with an option for an additional third year.[23] The signing was funded by the 1931 Fund, a group who pay money each month to raise around £15,000 to sign a player and part-fund them for a season.[24] Harper would make his debut for Exeter, coming on as a substitute in the 16th minute for the injured Demetri Mitchell, in a 3–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers.[25]

International career

Having been born in Kenya, but moving to England at a young age, Harper is eligible to play for both the Kenya national team and the England national team. In an interview in 2018, Harper said it would be a case of which football association asked him to represent first.[2][26]

In March 2023, Harper was included in Paul Fairclough's provisional 25-man England C squad.[27] On 21 March 2023, he played the full 90 minutes in England C's 1–0 victory against Wales C.[28]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 September 2023
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bristol City 2019–20 EFL Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020–21 EFL Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gloucester City (loan) 2019–20[29] National League North 15 1 0 0 — 0 0 15 1
Weston-super-Mare (loan) 2019–20[30] Southern Football League 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Bath City (loan) 2019–20[29] National League South 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0
Chippenham Town 2021–22[29] National League South 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Eastleigh 2021–22[29] National League 36 1 3 0 — 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 41 1
2022–23[29] National League 33 4 1 0 — 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 37 4
Total 69 5 4 0 — 5 0 78 5
Exeter City 2023–24[29] EFL League One 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
Career total 98 6 4 0 2 0 5 0 109 6
  1. Appearances in FA Trophy

References
  1. "EFL: Squad list 2023/24 & U21 registered contract players" (PDF). English Football League. 7 September 2023. p. 70. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. Ojumbe, Adhiambo (25 January 2018). "Bristol City ace ready to feature for Harambee Stars". Hivisasa. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. "Ashley Harper". Aylesbury United. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. "Report: Watford U18s 0-2 Bristol City U18s". Bristol City FC. 15 June 2017 [10 October 2016]. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. "Mäenpää to remain in BS3". Bristol City FC. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  6. "Contract options for young Robins". Bristol City FC. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  7. @GCAFCofficial (31 July 2019). "Transfer News: 2 more signings as Kieran Smith and Vincent Harper join" (Tweet). Retrieved 19 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. "Spennymoor Town 5 - 1 Gloucester City". The National League. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. Drury, Liam (10 December 2019). "HARPER ARRIVES AT THE OPTIMA". www.westonsmareafc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  10. "Player News". Bath City FC. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. "Player News". Bath City FC. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. "CONCORD RANGERS (0) 0 BATH CITY (1) 1 – SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2020 – VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – THE ASPECT ARENA". Bath City. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. "DORKING WANDERERS (0) 0 BATH CITY (0) 0 – VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2020 – MEADOWBANK STADIUM". Bath City FC. 1 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  14. "PLAYER NEWS: Vincent Harper signs". Chippenham Town. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  15. "MATCH REPORT: Slough Town 0-1 Chippenham Town – Sat 28th Aug 2021". Chippenham Town FC. 29 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. "Latest Player Updates: Tuesday 7th September 2021". Chippenham Town FC. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  17. "NEW SIGNING | VINCENT HARPER JOINS THE SPITFIRES". Eastleigh FC. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  18. House, Alfie (9 September 2021). "Eastleigh FC permanently sign ex-Bristol City Vince Harper". Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  19. "Barnet 1 1 Eastleigh". BBC. 11 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  20. "King's Lynn Town 3-3 Eastleigh". Soccerway. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  21. Bunclark, Jack. "REPORT | EASTLEIGH 2-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED". Eastleigh FC. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  22. James, Kieran (10 November 2022). "Eastleigh beat 10 men Maidstone 5-2". Eastleigh News. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  23. "✍️ Vincent Harper is a Grecian!". Exeter City FC. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  24. "📝 Vincent Harper to wear the Number 31 shirt!". Exeter City FC. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  25. "📝 Match Report: Wycombe Wanderers 0 City 3". Exeter City FC. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  26. "Budding Kenyan defender wins award in England". Mozzart Sport. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  27. Forrester, Richard (6 March 2023). "Former Bristol City academy prospect earns international call-up". Bristol Post. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  28. "England C 1-0 Cymru C: Ryan De Havilland seals win for Three Lions". The Non-League Football Paper. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  29. Vincent Harper at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  30. "Vincent Harper". Aylesbury United. Retrieved 19 September 2023.

Vincent Harper at Soccerway

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