News today that makes you realise there’s more to life than just football. Former Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic striker John Hartson will undergo chemotherapy after being diagnosed with brain cancer, according to reports in today’s papers.
The striker, was scored 89 goals for Celtic and was named Scottish Player’s Player and Football Writers Player of the year in 2005, was diagnosed at the weekend after undergoing tests.
The 34-year-old was told he had testicular cancer, which had spread to his brain.
Hartson was, for a period of time, the most expensive teenager in Britain when he moved from Luton to Arsenal in 1995. He then moved to West Ham and had spells with Wimbledon and Coventry City before moving to Celtic in 2001.
He spent five years at Parkhead before moving back to England with West Brom. After a brief loan spell with Norwich City he retired last year.
Hartson was one of those players who was popular with the fans wherever he went, none more so than at Celtic where he played a key part in their title successes.
At international level, he always gave his all in a Welsh shirt and often helped lift his younger and more inexperienced team mates. The sight of Hartson belting out the Welsh national anthem was one to behold.
On the pitch, John Hartson was renowned as a fighter who never gave any less than 100%. Here’s hoping that same fighting spirit will see him beat this horrible disease. From Soccerlens, get well soon John.
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