onevalefan.co.ukonevalefan.co.uk
  • Home
  • Forum
  • News
    • Headlines
    • Published elsewhere
    • Former Valiants
    • Rumours
    • Interviews
    • The administration months
    • Reference & special features
  • Blogs
    • Rob Fielding
    • Malcolm Hirst
    • Ray Williams
    • Barry Edge
    • Barry Edge poetry
    • Kitman confessions
    • All blogs
  • Nostalgia
    • Club History
    • Club Legends
    • Cult heroes
    • Legends of 1954
    • The Sprosons
    • Classic matches
    • Vintage Vale Park
    • Centrefold interviews
    • Nearly Men
    • Programme covers
    • Programme reviews
    • Video vault
    • All-time appearances
    • All-time scorers
    • Kit database
    • Port Vale Managers
    • Player Database
    • Vale Vaults
    • Scrapbooks & clippings
    • Tributes & obituaries
    • 1000s of pictures
  • About
    • About the site
    • Contact us
    • What they say about OVF
  • Site Map
portvale
27 February 2014

Chris Harper: a tribute

Rob Rob Fielding blog chris harper

Chris Harper’s Port Vale reports were hugely influential for a generation of Vale fans and Rob Fielding pays tribute.

Rob Fielding writes…

In fact several of his reports of famous Vale victories were dutifully pasted into the young Fielding’s Port Vale scrapbooks…

I was saddened to learn of Chris Harper’s passing at the age of 71. Like many fans, Chris’ Vale reports were a big part of my life as I grew up.

In those early days of my Vale support I was desperate to read more of how my heroes were getting on and without teletext or the Internet, Harper’s reports in the then Evening Sentinel were influential and essential reading. In fact several of his reports of famous Vale victories were dutifully pasted into the young Fielding’s Port Vale scrapbooks.

Chris’ reporting continued to feed my Vale addiction as I moved away from Stoke-on-Trent and into the alien environment of Bristol. As an impoverished student I was unable to see that much of my football team and I was almost entirely reliant on my family back in Stoke to give me the Vale news.

I fondly remember phoning my father every fifteen minutes to get updates on Radio Stoke’s commentary of away games and most of all I was keen for the postman to call on Tuesdays or Wednesdays after a weekend game. That was because my dad would roll-up the Sentinel’s “Green Un” (and often a Vale clipping or two from previous issues of the Sentinel) and post it to me. I would eagerly await it and once opened I would read Chris Harper’s match reports with relish.

As a mere fan and mere amateur writer, I’ve always appreciated reading “proper” journalists and Chris was most definitely one of those. Even though I didn’t make those matches, his meticulously crafted reports would vividly evoke the atmosphere and give me a great idea of who was playing (or indeed not playing, he was very honest) well. His piece on one of my favourite Vale away days – a 2-2 draw at Anfield – is still read from time-to-time and because it’s so well written, I can recall moments in the match that may have previously slipped my mind.

I look back on those days of receiving “Harper’s prose through the post” with great fondness and I, like many other Vale fans, will miss Chris and the way he reported on the club’s ups and downs.

Chris Harper, 1943-2014. RIP forever Valiant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print
Clubs’ legal action is a worry and wrong It’s time for Vale to bring in a CEO

Related Posts

entrance-2018

Rob Fielding blog

Opinion: despite the Q&A, Port Vale’s finances don’t add up

Rob Fielding says that one conclusion that many fans will draw from the Q&A meeting with Norman Smurthwaite on Thursday is that the club’s finances just don’t seem to add up.

2017-turnstiles

Rob Fielding blog

Vale need clear long-term plans and if not, a change of ownership

Rob Fielding says the club need to either produce a long-term, coherent vision or sell to new owners who can deliver that vision.

2017-vale-park-clouds2

Rob Fielding blog

Opinion: Hugill fee shows that having a clear transfer policy works

Rob Fielding says that the Jordan Hugill fee justifies the creation of a development squad and that fans and owner should now show some patience with the club’s focus on developing non-league talent.

2017-turnstiles

Rob Fielding blog

Opinion: Struggling Vale cannot afford another deadline disaster

Rob Fielding says that a second successive appalling transfer window could send the club spiralling into danger.

aspin-alt3

Rob Fielding blog

Aspin is taking Vale in right direction but he is no miracle worker

OVF editor Rob Fielding says some fans have unrealistic expectations of the Port Vale manager.

fred-pitch

Rob Fielding blog

A few words of praise for Port Vale’s unsung stars

Rob Fielding would like to praise some unsung members of the Port Vale FC’s backroom team.

Search

Local sponsors

BODEN ROOFING LTD
all roofing work undertaken

bodenroofingltd.co.uk
10% discount for Vale season ticket holders
VALIANT WINDOW CLEANING SERVICE
Contract/domestic work undertaken. Can clean upto 60ft
Call/text Adam 0774 2916 242 adamfozzer@hotmail.co.uk

Advert

Site sponsors

  • Are you looking for a trusted casino online with free spins no wager requirement? Simply visit freespinsnodeposit.eu and collect your no deposit bonus.
  • Click here if you want to play for real money in the UK casino online.

Advert

Help with our costs

Advert

Your login

register or login

Latest posts

  • If you are betting on Vale get a free bet first at www.thebookiesoffers.co.uk

Advert

Next up…

Results

This day in history…

  • 1949 George King scores twice as Port Vale beat Torquay United 3-1.
  • 1962 Arthur Longbottom, Stan Edwards and Stan Steele score as Port Vale beat Brentford 3-0.
  • 1985 Striker Gary Mulligan is born.
  • 1996 Lee Mills scores the winner as Port Vale beat Luton Town 1-0.
  • 2016 Michael O'Connor scores twice from the spot as Port Vale beat Rochdale 4-1.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Advert

Featured on

As featured on NewsNow: Port Vale news
Port Vale News 24/7 

Get email alerts of new posts

Thanks for subscribing!

  • Media bookings
  • Contact us
  • About this website
  • About cookies

Fixtures and tickets

About this site

We aim to be a responsible website. There are occasional gambling promotions on here and we encourage all users to gamble responsibly and know your limits. Find more help here.

This website opposes racism, homophobia and bigotry of all kinds. We accept no responsibility for views posted in the forum. We will respond as quickly as possible if you report a post to help@onevalefan.co.uk.

We support two chosen charities - the Donna Louise Trust and the Douglas MacMillan Hospice and donate to both.

All images and text (c) onevalefan.co.uk unless stated. Please ask us before using our content. We use cookies to enhance your enjoyment of this site | Cookie and privacy policy