Newcastle United: Top ten goalkeepers in club history
By Roy Emanuel
![NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given tries to look out during the snow blizzard during the 5th Round FA Cup match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James Park on February 20, 2005 in Newcastle, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 20: Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given tries to look out during the snow blizzard during the 5th Round FA Cup match between Newcastle United and Chelsea at St James Park on February 20, 2005 in Newcastle, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/265b8600f5fe12ddf3fa126193dd601a5d2718abaff620abcede255fd6c2d881.jpg)
6 – Steve Harper (1993-2013)
Patience is a virtue, and sometimes players must wait for the right moments when it comes to their contributions on the pitch. For Steve Harper, that wait may have spanned a long period of time but fans certainly enjoyed the ride.
Originally signed as the back-up to Pavel Srníček in 1993, there was always someone just ahead of him. However, Harper went on to make just short of 200 appearances for the Toon.
It is not easy to be ready for action after long spells on the sidelines, making some appearances tough for Harper. Being ready for those moments was a sign of his dedication to his craft.
One memory that will certainly remain for the Toon Army was in the UEFA Champions League group stage against Juventus in 2002, a remarkable occasion that produced a 1-0 win for United.
on this day in 2013... newcastle 0 arsenal 1 att 52,354... steve harper's final game... #nufchttps://t.co/E647OiSFdy pic.twitter.com/cdDNg5Kt0l
— ed_bell (@edjbell) May 19, 2017
Harper’s Newcastle career came to an emotional end in 2013, as he served as team captain versus Arsenal. After initially retiring, he would play for Hull City and Sunderland before walking away from the game in 2016.
20 years with Newcastle United has seen plenty of changes, unforgettable characters and tremendous joy for fans and players alike. In that incredible amount of time, Steve Harper was able to experience it all.