PHOTOS:
David Hughes and John Hartson
Talking tactics with Wayne Jones
The workers on the night!

Football lovers from around the county were treated to a cracking evening at the Merlin Theatre in Pembrokeshire College as Haverfordwest County AFC maintained its reputation of bringing top football players and managers into Pembrokeshire.

“An evening with John Hartson” was sponsored by the Western Telegraph and he captivated the audience, speaking with honesty for over an hour about his illustrious playing career as a professional footballer, which was warmly received by an appreciative and knowledgeable crowd that not only included current Bluebirds’ players and management but club president Des Shanklin.

Hartson spoke about how he was first on Luton Town’s books as a 12-year-old, and by the time he was 17, was a first team regular.

Arsenal manager George Graham came knocking on the door and bought him for a then British record transfer fee of 2.5 million for a teenager.

Frustrated at Dennis Berkamp and Ian Wright being picked regularly up front  with the Gunners, after two years young Hartson transferred to East End London rivals West Ham after being plagued by then manager he called ‘honest’ Harry Redknapp. Hartson was an instant success with The Hammers, scoring 24 goals in a Premier League season and he spent two happy years at Upton Park.

Hartson did confess that perhaps it was not a wise move to leave  Arsenal as they went on to complete the double, “ I just  wanted regular first team football, all I have ever wanted to do is play,” so he sacrificed winning any  silverware with the Gunners under Arsène Wenger.

Celtic bound

Then there was another big money transfer over the border to Celtic, where he is still hailed a cult-hero, the striker scoring over 100 goals for The Hoops, in five silverware-laden seasons in Scotland.

But the proudest moment for Big John was playing for his country, Wales. “I speak the language and I’m a passionate man and extremely proud of where I come from, Swansea,” said John. “For me, playing for Wales is the ultimate. Some players say playing in the Champions League with your club is the best feeling, but for me there was no bigger occasion than pulling on the Welsh jersey, singing the anthem, and scoring for my country. Nothing tops that!”

Hartson played 51 times for Wales and scored 14 times – and is ninth top scorer of all time.

Funny tales

Hartson told many funny tales about characters he played with; household names such as Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs, Paul Merson, and Vinnie Jones.

He also said he was ashamed after kicking team-mate Eyal Berkovic in the head in a training-pitch spat that made the main BBC news read by Trevor McDonald.

Beating cancer

But he poignantly spoke about how he overcame cancer, diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brain. “I thought I was a dead man,” Hartson confessed. “The word cancer to me meant death.

After undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment Hartson went from a healthy body weight of sixteen and a half stone down to ten and a half stone. “Anyone who saw the pictures back then would think I looked like a walking corpse.”

But miraculously he’s been in remission for five years and tells everyone he was the lucky one to survive and he feels blessed to still be alive.

MC for the night was well-known Bill Carne, which was organised by club chairman David Hughes and his helpers, Hartson also answered questions from the audience and signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans, and the evening with a true football legend was hailed a success.