John Hartson

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John Hartson
Personal information
Full name	John Hartson
Date of birth	5 April 1975 (1975-04-05) (age 34)
Place of birth	Swansea, Wales
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Striker (retired)
Youth career
	Luton Town
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992–1995 1995–1997 1997–1999 1999–2001 2001 2001–2006 2006–2008 2007	Luton Town Arsenal West Ham United Wimbledon Coventry City Celtic West Bromwich Albion → Norwich City (loan) Total	054 0(11) 053 0(14) 060 0(24) 049 0(19) 012 00(6) 146 0(88) 021 00(5) 004 00(0) 399 (167)
National team2
1995–2005	Wales U21 Wales	051 0(14)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:14, 12 February 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 19:14, 12 February 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

John Hartson (born 5 April 1975 in Swansea) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker. He retired after being released by West Bromwich Albion in January 2008.

[edit] Early life

John Hartson was born on 5 April 1975 in Swansea, as the third of four children to Cyril and Diana Hartson. Cyril had also played football, for local team Afan Lido. Hartson grew up in Talycoppa, Swansea, alongside his elder brother James, elder sister Hayley, and younger sister Victoria.^[1] As a youngster Hartson represented Lonlas Boys' Club in Skewen, playing his first match aged six.^[2] He joined Luton Town's Youth Training Scheme at the age of sixteen, but was suspended four months later for stealing a bank card from the son of a couple with which he was lodging. He used the card to withdraw £50, in order to fund his gambling addiction. Hartson was suspended and sent home to Swansea, but was re-instated by Luton shortly afterwards and allowed to resume his apprenticeship.^[3]

[edit] Club career

[edit] Luton Town and Arsenal

Hartson turned professional in 1992 and made his first team debut as a substitute in a 1–0 League Cup defeat to Cambridge United on 24 August 1993.^[4] In January 1995 he joined Arsenal for £2.5 million, a British record fee for a teenage player at the time.^[5] He was one of George Graham's last signings before his sacking in February 1995, along with Chris Kiwomya. He made his Arsenal debut on January 14, 1995 and was a regular in his first season, the highlight of which was scoring Arsenal's 75th minute equaliser in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final against Real Zaragoza; however a last-minute goal from 40 yards by Nayim meant Arsenal lost the game 2–1.

With the signing of Dennis Bergkamp, who was preferred up front to partner Ian Wright, Hartson featured less under Graham's successors Bruce Rioch and Arsène Wenger. With Wenger angling for the signing of Nicolas Anelka in early 1997, he made it clear Hartson was surplus to requirements and in February 1997 he was sold to West Ham United for £3.2 million. At the time, he was the most expensive player to be signed by West Ham.

In total he had played 70 times (15 as substitute) for Arsenal, scoring 17 goals.

[edit] West Ham United

For West Ham, Hartson scored 33 goals in 73 league and cup appearances for the East London club. He became the second highest scoring player (behind Andrew Cole) in the Premiership in his first full season. In a training ground incident in 1998, Hartson kicked West Ham team-mate Eyal Berkovic in the face, after the Israeli midfielder had punched Hartson in the leg as he attempted to help Berkovic to his feet. The incident was captured on camera. Hartson was fined for the incident. Hartson has admitted in his biography that this was an error of judgement.

[edit] Wimbledon and Coventry City

He joined Wimbledon in January 1999, becoming the club's most expensive signing ever at £7.5m.^[6] His time with the Dons was marred by injury, though he still managed a respectable goal tally, first in the Premier League, then the First Division following the club's relegation in 2000. Moves to Rangers, Spurs and Charlton fell through due to doubts over the player's fitness, and he instead joined Coventry City on a pay-for-play deal in February 2001.^[7]

[edit] Celtic

In August 2001 he joined Celtic in a £6m transfer.^[8] He played for the Scottish Premier League club for five seasons. In March 2004, he dropped out for the remainder of the football season for surgery to his back; however, he recovered in time for Wales' unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

In April 2005 he shared the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year award with Fernando Ricksen and a short time later in May he was voted the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year.

On 5 April 2006, Hartson scored the winning goal against Hearts on his 31st birthday to clinch the title for Celtic.

Hartson was sent off on a number of occasions, one being a notable dismissal towards the end of an Old Firm derby, when he was sent-off for violent conduct along with Celtic team-mate Johan Mjallby and Rangers player Fernando Ricksen. Hartson's dismissal was overturned on appeal.

Hartson was accused in the newspapers of making pro-Irish Republican Army chants with then Celtic team mate Stephen Pearson at a supporters function. An expert investigation later cleared the players and found that they had been singing The Fields of Athenry with the chants coming from members of the public.^[9]

[edit] West Bromwich Albion

On 26 June 2006, Hartson signed a two-year contract with English Football League Championship side West Bromwich Albion in a £500,000 move.^[10][11] Hartson scored twice on his Albion debut in a 2–0 Hawthorns win against Hull City on 5 August, 2006.^[12]

On 31 August 2007, The Times said that John Hartson had signed for League One club Nottingham Forest on a loan move. On 5 September 2007, the Western Mail reported that Hartson had rejected a firm approach from Forest and was on the verge of signing for his hometown club Swansea City on loan. However the club quickly issued a statement on its website denying the striker was set to sign.

In October 2007 Hartson joined Norwich City on a month's loan.^[13] Although Norwich had the option to extend the loan until 31 December, newly appointed manager Glenn Roeder decided to send Hartson back to the Midlands after the initial month period.^[14] He then rejected an offer to join Chester City on loan.^[15] In January 2008 Hartson was released by West Bromwich Albion, six months before the end of his contract.^[16]

On 7 February 2008 Hartson announced his retirement from professional football citing his long term struggles with weight and fitness as major reasons for finishing his footballing career.^[17]

[edit] International career

Hartson won 51 first team caps for Wales, scoring 14 goals. He retired from international football in early 2006 but in August that year he stated that he would come out of retirement to play if John Toshack needed him. He is currently the 9th top scorer of all time for the international team.

He also holds a record for the Wales U21 team by being one of only four people to have scored a hattrick at that level alongside Craig Davies, Lee Jones and Ched Evans.

Hartson retired from international football in February 2006 in order to concentrate on his career with Celtic.^[18]

[edit] Off the field

Just a few weeks after his retirement from playing, East Stirlingshire in the Scottish Third Division offered Hartson the chance to succeed Gordon Wylde as manager, but Hartson rejected the opportunity, saying that, "the timing is just not right for me at the moment."^[19] Hartson joined Setanta Sports as a pundit for the 2008–09 season, as part of the broadcaster's coverage of the Scottish Premier League.^[20]

[edit] Career statistics

^[21]

[edit] References

General

• Hartson, John (2007) [2006]. The Autobiography (Paperback edition ed.). Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7528-8158-4. 

Specific

[edit] External links

• John Hartson career stats at Soccerbase