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Fullname: Cameron Harper
aka: –
Born: 19 November 2001
Birthplace: Sacremento, USA
Signed:1 July 2019
Left: 5 March 2021 (to NY Red Bull)
Position: Midfielder, winger
Debut: 2021-01-11: Celtic 1-1 Hibernian, League
Squad No.: 53
Internationals: […]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
US-born & raised Cameron Harper was the son of Scottish emigrants to the US, whose family followed Celtic from afar. He learnt his game in the US, and having been spotted by Jonny Burns (son of Tommy Burns), he was brought over to Glasgow as a future prospect. He was progressing but the situation like for all others hit a wall as the coronavirus pandemic halted any progress for many in gaining experience.
However, by unexpected circumstances he won his debut in January 2021 v Hibs in a rare Monday night league match following the enforced isolation of 13 Celtic players after a sanctioned trip when one player tested positive for Covid. This led to Cameron Harper winning a first team place (the sole starting debutant in the line-up), with Celtic drawing 1-1 in front of an empty stadium (covid restrictions era). Tough times on the field with more dropped points as Celtic threw away the title to TheRangers after nine titles in a row.
Journalist (and ex-Celtic View editor) Andrew Smith in The Scotsman newspaper commented over-critically on Cameron Harper on his debut:
“It would be harsh to home in on 19-year-old forward Cameron Harper, handed a debut in invidious circumstances, but it really didn’t happen for the American across his hour on the pitch. He had one goal attempt early on from an impossible angle when a cut-back was demanded, but made the visitors’ backline look impenetrable.”
(Andrew Smith, The Scotsman newspaper)
He did play fine in the match, but struggled in a makeshift side and had to come off with an injury after an hour. However, it was his first senior level match and a big step up. Effort was good, and he had made his name known now to the general support which was a major note.
However, as soon as he had made his debut, it was already quoted in the papers on his frustration at his lack of opportunities at Celtic and was looking to move back over to the states to the MLS. It was frustrating, and possibly a bit premature by the player.
In fairness, it wasn’t exactly a great time to be at Celtic. After the great nine-in-a-row run, season 2020/21 was a disaster with the manager under the cosh, and then the Chief Executive having to announce stepping down in a season that saw Celtic slump and hand over the league title without a fight, not forgetting that play in Europe hit near rock bottom. The uncertainty helped no one, and Neil Lennon had been poor in assisting youth talent to the first team, and consequently there were a number of young talented youth players at Celtic who just bailed out.
He moved to New York Red Bulls in March 2021 (under ex-Celtic manager Ronnie Deila), and we wished him the best.
Post-Celtic
Despite the disappointment in losing another youth prospect, in retrospect, with the arrival of Ange Postecoglu and the legion of high quality signings from Japan as well as others like Jota, Cameron Harper’s decision was the right move for himself (albeit he had left long before any of them had even arrived at the club). It is highly unlikely he would have been able to displace any of those players under Postecoglu, and then there were the other young players at Celtic to compete with.
[…]
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2021-22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none