'The greatest No.2 the Premier League has ever seen' – Seven years on from 199 & out for Steve Harper at Newcastle United

A banner unfurled in the Strawberry corner of the Gallowgate End of St James's Park seven years ago today quite succinctly summarised an at times complex, sadly under-achieving time at Newcastle United for quite possibly the greatest No.2 the Premier League has ever seen. Harper was easily the most under-appreciated.

How often do club's form dip when their main keeper gets a knock or a suspension? Well, for two decades the Magpies had a more than able deputy on hand, who would have, at times, walked into many other Premier League sides.

On Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 37 minutes past four, in another uninspiring home loss to Arsenal under Alan Pardew, St James's rose to its feet to mark the final appearance of a man who'd made the ground his home for more than half his life.

Speaking five years after the event, Harper said: "The 37th minute (Harper's then squad number) was just incredible – it was mind blowing, and I was struggling a bit.

“Then (Lukas) Podolski smashed the ball into my family allowance, and pulled me out of it!”

One hundred and ninety nine games and out, so close to the double ton for Harper at United - but as much was gained in 20 years on Tyneside, how much was lost? Harper proved time and time again, he was the best international standard goalkeeper the world had never heard of.

Signed in 1993 from local side Seaham Red Star for a nominal fee, Harper was brought in as back up to then No.1 Pavel Srnicek - it was a theme that was to continue throughout his career.

Shaka Hislop came and went, Shay Given became a legend on Tyneside with Harper ever waiting in the wings, then finally, just as his chance came to shine as the undoubted No.1, future Netherlands World Cup hero Tim Krul burst on the scene.

Until the season after Newcastle's first relegation under wantaway owner Mike Ashley in 2009/10, Harper's best campaign had totalled 21 league appearances - a return which did not fairly display the goalkeeper's talents.

An FA Cup final appearance - in the 1999 loss to Manchester United - and a clean sheet in the Champions League against a star-studded Juventus side - the night of THAT Andy Griffin goal - mark the high points in what was a stop-start career for at United for Harper.

It was in 1999 when he probably came closest to dethroning Irishman Given, but just a few weeks into the next season then manager Ruud Gullit was gone, Bobby Robson replacing him. And with Given as one of Robson's 'blue chip' players, Harper's days as ever-ready, ever-able understudy continued.

Lifting the Championship title 12 months after the pain of relegation was sweet for Harper, now a first-team coach at the football club, having finally been trusted to take the gloves full-time and shaken the shadows of Given, following his pre-drop January exit to Manchester City.

That was in 2010, by the summer of 2012 Krul was handed the No.1 shirt and it was another case of 'come in No.37' for Harper, 12 years after Rob Lee was handed the number by Robson.

Fast forward nine months and it was game over for Harper at United.

Speaking after Harper's Arsenal farewell, Pardew said: "I spoke to him and he definitely wants to play one more year or two more years. I think that he should. He definitely has the ability to do that and he can show that on Sunday, but for us it will be his last game.”

And play on he did, chasing lost games of days gone by.

Spells at Hull City and Sunderland followed. Leaving Hull was the “hardest time” for Harper, who has spoken about his own experiences with depression.

A year later, he was ready to hang up his gloves.

“It’s fine,” said Harper. “I was ready for it. I’d basically retired three times! I left Newcastle at 38 and didn’t have anything lined up.

“I got a call from Hull, and had a couple of great years down there. Again, finished. That was probably the hardest time, because I played the last seven games of the season at 40 and did well.

“I kept a few clean sheets and thought ‘I can still do this’. Then the phone doesn’t ring. I’m 40, and you get one or two phone calls, but it’s ‘hang on, I just proved I can still do this’.

“The opportunity came to go to Sunderland for four months. Even there, at 41, I missed one day’s training."

On hanging up the gloves in 2016, Harper said: “I’ve spoken to lots of players. Some have taken six months to get over it. Some took 18 months, and some still haven’t got over it.

“I was ready. I was fortunate. I think the average career is eight years, and I did it for 23.

“I missed the keeping fit and the crack, but if you asked me to dive over there and tip one round the corner, I wouldn’t welcome it.”

England and the Premier League's loss was definitely North East football and Newcastle United's gain.