In a way, Kevin Harper’s career has long been about a lot more than simply the great man himself.
The first black player to play for Hibernian, Harper overcame the odds to live his dream and inspire so many others across Scotland to live theirs.
He has regularly and consistently spoken out against the
challenges and hurdles faced by black, Asian and minority
ethnic players in football and can sadly recall many
harrowing experiences of his own.
Since leaving Possilpark in Glasgow to embark on an incredible career he has had a significant influence on football in this country. Charting new territory for others to hopefully follow.
Despite playing for a host of clubs during his long career, Kevin is somewhat synonymous with Hibs having spent several years with us as a player before returning for a stint on Hibs TV and in the hospitality suites around the stadium before more recently becoming a First Team scout.
Yet, his long association with the Club was initially down to good fortune as Kevin himself explains.
“The story is well-documented. Alex Miller was watching his son play and heard a commotion on the adjacent pitch so came over to see what was going on.
“I was ripping it up and he quickly decided he wanted to sign me. Thankfully he did because my life changed that day.
“Alex was hugely influential in my career. He took a chance on a young kid from a scheme in Glasgow and I will forever be grateful.”
Kevin’s undoubted talent and potential was quickly realised as he rose through the ranks of the club’s academy.
In 1992 he was part of the Club’s under-18 side that won the Scottish FA Youth Cup in front of 6,500 supporters at Easter Road, despite being just 16 at the time.
A little over a year later he made his senior debut against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, and the emotions of that afternoon remain with him.
“It was fairly daunting,” he recalled, “Although I had been training with the first team it was still nerve-wracking to be travelling up on the bus with the team party to Perth.
“I remember sitting on the bench and we were 3-1 up and I was thinking to myself ‘yes, that’s me got the bonus’ before Alex Miller shouted me over and the proverbial hit the fan because I was going on.
“I can still remember the buzz I got putting that strip on even though I was very nervous. I need not have worried because the manager and the players made it as smooth an introduction as possible for me.
“Once I got a touch of the ball then all the nerves left me. I just did what I had been training for.”
For a diminutive attacker, it is ironic that Kevin was a big game player, scoring some big goals when it mattered most.
He was regularly a thorn in the side of our city rivals, Heart of Midlothian, a fact that certainly did not hurt his status with the Easter Road faithful.
Recalling several highlights of his time with us, he said: “I loved my time with Hibs and there are many, many great moments for me to reflect upon - such as my debut or scoring in my first game at Easter Road when we beat Dundee United 5-0.
“If I had to choose one moment to relive it would be the goal against Hearts on New Year’s Day 1996. It was the Festive period, under the lights, against our biggest rivals – I don’t think it gets much bigger than that. That one has stayed with me for a long time.
“I felt I was a big game player. I stepped up and I scored in
quite a few of them for Hibs..."
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