The John Hartson Story

greatest sons was struck down early. John Hartson was being treated for

testicular cancer at the local hospital when suddenly he stopped

breathing. Doctors flew into the room and the doors were going in and

out and people were putting masks on and everyone was doing this. Alarms

went off and I was kind of what's happening? What's going on? Loads of

nurses came in. I was ushered out, they were putting on aprons. My bad,

I think he collapsed, and... I'm looking at my son laying on a bed,

that is when I was screaming, "please don't go, please don't go".

John was rushed across his home town for an emergency brain operation,

past the council estate where he was raised, the streets he kicked a ball

around as a lad, the schools and clubs he represented with honour.

The journey alone was life threatening, the brain operation was

his only chance. The news was already out. The former Wales

footballer John Hartson has had emergency surgery to relieve

pressure on his brain. John Hartson, the former Celtic striker, is in a

critical condition in hospital. It is not good news, we are told he's

in a critical condition being cared for around the clock after emergency

neurosurgery last night. The football world held its breath. I

will never forget it, it is one of those JFK moments you have. I was on

my way into Lennox Town, the training ground, and it came on the

national news. My heart stopped for a minute. When I heard it, you just

think the worst. Every day I was praying he was going to survive.

John had a high-profile roller-coaster career, the record

signing teenager, the addicted gambler, the goal-scoring saviour,

the light-night hell raiser, the idol of Scottish soccer, the devoted

family man. Swansea, Wales and football waited anxiously to see if

cancer had cruelly taken Big John. Five years after his emergency brain

operations and treatment for testicular cancer, which spread

throughout his body, Big John has bounced back, literally grabbing a

new life by the balls. This is his golf day for h charity, the John

Hartson Foundation, raising awareness about testicular cancer,

the most common cancer in young men, a cause his famous friends are happy

to support. I'm here to support John, great lad, been through a

tough time, come through the other end. He's a fighter, he's a warrior,

and you can tell by how many people are here today what people think of

him. And when he asks them he will get a good turnout because he's such

a nice lad. I have travelled everywhere with John on the golf

days all around the British Isles, it is nice to see the old face,

Wright, Shearer, even Robbie Savage is a pleasure to see every now and

then! We have got super stars here today that have come along, it is

great to catch up with so many old friends, players I played with,

players I played against, managers who have managed me, Neil Lennon,

the Celtic manager, sat next to in the Celtic dressing room for five

years. Players I went to battle with, the likes of Neil Ruddock and

other guys that are here today, it has been brilliant. Fully fit, clean

of cancer and raring to go, John now reflects on moment was ecstacy and

agony in his glittering career. Hery rest veals how his near-death

experience has changed him and exposes the life-long gambling

addict behind the media pundit. So Big John is back, bigger and braver

than ever. John came from good, solid South Wales centre forward

stock. His father, Cyril, a talented big man up front for several local

clubs. He was nowhere near as talented as me. He wouldn't like me

saying. That he was a good player, my dad. He says himself that I was a

little bit special when I was a kid. And I would pick the ball up, take

the ball off my own goalkeeper and I would beat every single player and

score a goal at 11 years of age against 13-year-olds. Growing up on

a council estate in Swansea, most of John's early memories involve

football or submerged in family life with his mum, Diana, Big Brother,

James, big sister Hayley, and little sister, Victoria, who loved to watch

John play. Even as a toddler, John appeared gifted. I would say John

was as young as three when he noticed that he had something. I

started taking a few kids across the park and OK give him a bit of

coaching for what I knew. He didn't have to be taught anything. John was

a natural as he was progressing, when he was seven Scouts started to

come and watch him. He would use his strength and he had a wonderful

first touch, he could pass the ball and what John said to me again from

a young age, scoring goals for money, everywhere, everies team --

every team he played for, he found scoring goals so easy. He was very

fiery and rough I diets of his own age at that time wouldn't provoke

John, because they wouldn't get the better of him. You know, being

brought up on a fairly rough council estates, he was up on the streets

playing with friends up the fields or the park. He wouldn't be

provoked. My dad put a lot of time and effort into me as a kid. He

could see I had a talent. He would never shout at me on the touch-line

F we got back in the car he would tell me what he thought in no

uncertain terms if I did the wrong thing on the pitch. He was always

there for me. He was my number one fan. Whenever I scored a goal I had

the special little bond with my dad, I would look up to him and he would

go like that or that and I would do the same back. I always knew if he

was in the crowd. No, my dad has been huge to me. Probably the

biggest influence on my life, certainly my career. Scouts had

always circled John, Luton swooped first and the 16-year-old packed his

bags and was off, determined to make a success of it. But it nearly ended

before it began. John had already developed a gambling addiction and

to fuel the slot machines he stole from a Luton team-mate whose family

were looking after him. I came home for about two weeks and my parents

were very, very disappointed in me, I was embarrassed, I had this big

opportunity to do something with my life in terms of being a

professional footballer and it looked like I had very much blown it

all because of this addiction. You know. I was accepted back, I think

they might have seen the fact that I did have a talent and you know, and

eventually I got in the youth team and I progressed and I had spells of

times where I didn't gamble and other times where I did. The specter

of gambling has always loomed over John. But in the earlier days it was

outweighed by his sparkling talent. A succession of goals in Luton's FA

Cup run of 94 by this fiery teenage striker caught the attention of the

big clubs, with Luton manager David Pleat fielding offers. He said he

wanted me to do him a favour the afternoon, he said can you go home,

have a shave, put a nice shirt and tie on, we're going to go and meet

the manager of Arsenal Football Club, George Graham. He didn't have

a manage at the time, I didn't know nothing about this. I was driving

and working for a company putting "for sale" signs up for estate

agents. I had a battered old van, and I used to travel back and forth

to Luton and John said dad can you come up Arsenal want to buy me. Well

I remember actual low I went to meet John, he brought his father up from

Wales, which I was pleased about, obviously a lad at that age, 19,

speaking to the manager of Arsenal with a potential move there, it is

really, it must have been such an occasion of the boy. He said is it

OK if I bring my dad. I said it is not only OK it is imperative you

bring your father. Heads up to Highbury, never been to Arsenal or

North London before. His phone is ringing all the time in the car,

David Pleat said the world is out that Arsenal is going to break the

British transfer fee for a teenager, ?2. 5 million, which at the time was

a huge deal. Overnight the teenager from Swansea has become the world's

third-most expensive player ever. The ?2. 5 million man and all at the

age of 19. I was so excited thinking my brother will be famous and play

for Arsenal. I was just so excited as a child, and there was so much

fuss around, it was great, a great memory. We used to go and watch as

many games as we could, my dad and I would travel up in the morning, and

we would stop off for breakfast and watch the game, have a couple of

hours with John and then we'd drive back most of the time. But nearly

every game we saw then, yeah. Overnight John was lining up

alongside the England captain, Tony Adams, and centre forward Ian

Wright, his strike partner. When he came to Arsenal he wasn't phased by

the players or the place he just came and did his stuff, it was

admirable. Goal for Arsenal! He was a bag -- big man with a lot of skill

and touch, great right foot shot on him, he was just fantastic.

Obviously I was in and around him, feeding off him and that. You build

up partnerships and things when you play football, and respect for each

other, Ian write was 11 stone 2 and I was 14 stone. If you are playing

against the Colin Hendries, and these guys are monsters, the

physicality of these guys, if you are in the shout too soon they will

take your head off. They are so physically strong these people. If

one of them centre-halfs is kicking lumps out of Ian write then Wright,

in so uncertain terms I would say, can you stop kicking me, kick me.

People taking liberties on the pitch i would say to Harts, I would say I

think I might be on for a cup of tea in the tunnel. It was very small and

really compact and if something happened in there it would kick off

and be a racaus thing, with somebody like John behind me, he was a big

old fella. If Wrighty thought he could look to me, an England centre

forward and wonderful player, if he thought he could look to me, not

"protection", that is the wrong word, but somebody who would have

his back in a game, then that is a compliment to me. A tough man. A

silly Welshman isn't, have you ever tried to hurt one of them, they

don't feel it! After Arsenal a full international cap for this proud

silly Welshman wasn't far behind. Taking over from his childhood hero,

Liverpool legend, Ian Rush. It didn't take long for John to make

his mark with a decisive goal against Scotland.

I loved playing for Wales, I really enjoyed representing my country. I'm

a very proud Welshman, I speak the language and I think when you play

for the senior national side I think that is the pinnacle. I think it is

the pinnacle of player's career. Very proud to see the red shirt on,

I would go to Cardiff at 10.00 in the morning, the kick-off wouldn't

be until 8.00 at night. A fabulous day in Cardiff floating around until

the game. You are just waiting for that moment to see your son come out

and sing The National Anthem. When I wore that number nine shirt for

Wales, that red number nine, the red shirt. You know, Trevor Ford, John

Charles, Rush, Hughes, Saunders, heros of mine growing up as a child.

I looked up to these guys, to have taken the shirt off these great

players and held on to it for the best part of eight or nine seasons

untouched was a really massive moment for me. You know. I always

played with massive amounts of pride and passion when I represented my

country. We had a very good side, Hartson, Giggs and Bellamy, not bad

forward three. The way he brought people into play, the way he was

unselfish, all night he was a legend and I had the privilege of rooming

with him for seven years, some great stories, about the times he took

into a tray of sandwiches at 3. 30am and a Di Canio of coke and say he

always had a snack at this time in the morning. In 2003 Wales had the

chance of a lifetime to get into an international tournament, beat

Russia and they were through to the European Championships. We thought

we would get it done and beat Russia in Cardiff in a full house.

Unfortunately a few of us didn't turn up, I wasn't at my best, one or

two players weren't at their best, we got beaten 1-0. It was just a

real big opportunity that we let slip through our hand really. You

know, one of the closest situations that we had been in to qualify for a

major tournament. That is disappointment and disbelief, shared

by practically 71,000 people in this stadium. Playing for Wales and

Arsenal, enjoying the wealth, married to his first wife, still in

his early 20s, John was living the dream. But with Arsenal signing the

Dutch striker begin this Bergkamp, John suddenly found himself on the

bench. Struggling West Ham snapped him up for another record fee ?3. 2

million. John paid them back with a partnership with Paul Kitson. Harry

red snap and West Ham gave me the platform to go and be a number nine

at West Ham. And Harry would build his team around me, playing to me,

get the wide men to cross balls into me so I could tackle goal and play

the way I wanted to play, he was paying massive money for me, ?3. 2

million. I was a bit reluctant to leave Arsenal, I wanted to be there,

they offered me a new contract, there was a contract on the table,

but it was about playing. I couldn't stop scoring goals. I was flying. I

scored goals when I first arrived there. I scored 24 goals the season

after, which was my best in the Premier League. I was one goal

behind Michael Owen for the Golden Boot that year. He was phenomenal,

him and Kitson would score so many goals, and he kept them up on his

own virtually. John was now in his prime, a formidable, prolific and

aggressive goal scorer. I think you have to be slightly cynical to be a

modern day good footballer. I don't mean dirty and I don't mean overly

aggressive, I just mean you have to have the ability to grit your teeth

and to go in for challenges and be strong. And protect yourself. Now if

that means your opposite number gets hurt, then so be it. But I can

honestly say I never went in to break anybody's leg, I never went in

to you know throw in my elbows on purpose. You wouldn't last on the

pitch if you did that. But while playing hard at West Ham, he partied

hard. We taught the West Ham squad how to drink. There was one or two

nights where I spent the night in a sell, nothing too serious -- in a

cell, nothing too serious, it was just being out late drinking, and

again being boisterous. As well as the drink, John's gambling got out

of hand. I didn't really want help, I was enjoying it, I was enjoying

the lifestyle, I enjoyed the buzz of going to the paper and just

choosing, it is a gamble isn't it, all the time. I told him many times

that he is silly, he's foolish, it is a short career, and John seemed

to think because he was earning so much money that if he gambled

?50,000 at the end of the month he could replace it with the wages.

Caught on camera kicking fellow West Ham player Brkovich in the head, he

made the papers for all the wrong reasons. This marked a decline in

all his fortunes. You got a stigma with you, I have had to carry that

around for a long time. I'm not trying to defend myself. I took what

I did, not trying to defend what I did, it is there for everybody to

see. What I did do, I held my hand up straight away and said that was

wrong, I never tried to shy away from it. I couldn't really any way

because it was on news at ten that night, the main news. I took it on

the chin. The incident affected John's form, a few months later West

Ham sold him to Wimbledon, although again he still warranted a record

fee, over ?7 million. We got relegated at Wimbledon and that

wasn't a nice feeling. I should have got my he had done -- head down and

done a lot more there. I was gambling and drinking, and I took my

eye off the ball slightly I would say at Wimbledon. Wimbledon put John

up for sale, but he failed medicals due to a weak knee at Spurs,

Charlton and Rangers. However, struggling Coventry ignored that and

signed him. Manager Gordon track ham need -- Stracham needed a goal

scorer and John needed a club to save his career. Even today John is

haunted by his gambling addiction. For 40 years he would bet on

anything going, horse, football, even golf. He would open account

after account with bookies offering no limit on bets. He lied and

deceived all around him, secretly gambling even after his football

career was over, the huge wages had gone and he had returned to Swansea

earning more modest money. But he couldn't hide the truth forever. I

was always aware that John was gambling, but I suppose when I

realised how big a problem it was was when he became ill. Because I

had to take over charge then of all the money and the finances and as I

started to do that I started to realise just how much he was

actually spending. I tried everything, you know, my agents, my

parents, my wife, my children, my managers, my team-mates, my friends,

everybody tried to get me to stop, no way. Wasn't interested. 30 wild

horses wouldn't have stopped me. But I thought that when he came round

and got over the cancer that would be an end, but it wasn't. He

continued and I thought this is just going to make him ill again. She

said I'm away today and I'm taking the girls with me. I said what? She

said I'm not sitting back any more watching you, one, put yourself

through this, and two you won't put me and the girls through this. And I

thought well I just as well be dead without my family. You know. What am

I without them, I'm nothing. So the penny dropped and she said to me you

better get yourself on that computer, I'm not doing it for you,

get yourself on that computer, Google GA, Gamblers' Anonymous,

which is what I did, to save my marriage and everything really. Down

this Swansea street John attends twice weekly two-hour sessions with

Gamblers' Anonymous, striped of his superstar status. At the start of

the meeting I will stand up and say I'm gambling addict. I will always

be a gambling addict, a recovering one, I will be here when I'm 70. One

of John's biggest regrets is the thousands he threw away over the

years. I should have retired with a lot more than I had, I have a chance

again, I have a second bite at it. And I will be a millionaire again,

I'm sure of that, if I stay clean of the gambling. Back at Coventry in

2001 John tried to save them from relegation scoring twice against

league champions Manchester United. But he had arrived too late to stop

them going down. Still his performances caught the eye of

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, and with Stracham's encouragement John signed

for Celtic. I didn't sign John Hartson on potential, he's a proven

player in the Premiership. Moving north of the border with his then

wife and toddler daughter rebel beck what -- Rebecca, John found himself

in the middle of the Old Firm rivalry. The Derby games are like

nothing else. I tell people, if you have ever the chance to witness one

of these games, Celtic or Ranger, you must do it. Nothing touch it is

for me, the hatred between the two sets of fans, hatred. It boils down

to hate and passion, and the noise, you know, when you take to that

field is just amazing. After a shaky start, John fell in love with the

club and the club with him. He never misses an opportunity to pop back.

Nice to see you again, how are you? Are you OK, nice to see you. How are

you keeping? Good, just going to show the guys around a little bit.

As you can see there is nothing blue, it is all green, green and

white. As you are coming out here, you start to hear the crowd and it

is a magnificent arena, I probably didn't appreciate it playing here

for five years, really how nice and spectacular and awesome it is

really. As you come out here and there is 60,000 fans here, it is a

wonderful place to play. When it is full, of all the places I have

played for some big clubs there is no atmosphere like this one, it is

out of this world. I had a fantastic relationship with the crowd. I think

they saw something in me, similar to themselves, I'm from a council

estate, you know, I did very well and I gave everything every time I

played, and a lot of these guys, you know, they save up their money, they

are working-class and they come and watch their beloved Celtic every

week, and when they see a player like myself who battles for

everything and gets goals and wins headers and sweats for the shirt,

that is what I did probably at this club more than any other. They had a

special song for me "he's got no hair but we don't care"! Which I

used to give them a little clap. They used to play the song "Big

John" every time I scored, my kids would love it and I would give a

thumbs up when I scored a goal. A club like no other, that is true for

me. What a goal from John Hartson. John Hartson what a start for

Celtic. He played in great Celtic team for a

start, absolutely the amount of goals he scored, well documented, he

nearly game to Rangers! Our loss, obviously, and without a doubt

Celtic's gain. There were match that is he won for us just when he might

have had a 10-20 minute spell were things weren't going so well and

suddenly it is played into him, he would back into the centre half, he

would roll him, turn around and smash something into the net and

turn the game for us. I think there were times when he was a bit lazy in

the field, you know, I remember saying to him once, John, get warmed

up you are coming off. I had genuinely nothing but great times

with him. He was great, am I delighted I signed him? Absolutely

delighted I signed him, he was great for me and the football club.

I had a wonderful time against Rangers, you know, I scored the

winning goal in four consecutive derbies, people dream of scoring a

winning goal, once-in-a-lifetime, I did it in four consecutive games, I

got nine goals against Rangers in total. You score against Rangers and

you get to the keys for one hour to the city. You really do, you get the

keys to the city. If you ever went out after an Old Firm game you would

be carried into bar, you know. A taxi driver would take you home and

say don't be stupid, that's on me big man! In five seasons John scored

110 goals for Celtic in 220 appearances, including vital strikes

in Europe in 2002/03. A crucial away goal against Spanish side Celta Vigo

put them in the UEFA Cup for the first time in decades. Next up

Liverpool at Anfield. I have never won at Anfield, the whole stadium

was full of Celtic fans, it was. It was 1-0 to us at the second half and

getting fraught. I said get hold of the ball John, he was an amiable

guy, and he said shut up you or I will rip your head off, two minutes

later 2-0 into the corner, he runs to me and gives me a big hug, he

said I needed that to get me going. It was us just a brilliant feeling,

a great goal and important goal that put us into the semifinal, for it to

happen against Liverpool, my parents were behind the goal that I had

scored in, my mam said if the net wasn't there she would have caught

the ball. So my dad was signing autographs that night. It was a

fantastic night, I'm probably thinking the highlight of my time

wearing the hoops. Celtic made it to the final but without John, he was

suffering from a back injury. Losing to Mourinho's Porto left fans

wondering what could have been with Hartson up front. Nevertheless, it

was the club's best European run in the modern era, reinforcing John's

heroic status in Celtic folklore. Give me a ring, next time you are up

we will get a beer. Top man. I know it has been hectic for you. Even

today fans still follow John's life, even his battle with testicular

cancer, and for one fan it helped save his own life. He was great

player, I mean he was a great big strapping centre forward, which we

didn't really have at that point in time. I started reading John's book

and I thought, there's some serious similarities here. Further on into

the book I started realising maybe I should go to the doctors here.

Doctor very quickly referred me on to a urologyist and got an

ultrasound done which confirmed that it was testicular cancer. If I

hadn't read his book got knows where I would have been. Speaking to John

and him giving me a big hug, it was quite emotional, quite emotional for

me. I couldn't believe it really. It was surreal, you know. It was

like here is one of my heros giving me a big bear hug. Although I kind

of felt a connection with him. You know, obviously because of what we

had both gone through. I would say there has been at least a dozen

incidents where people have got in touch with me through the

foundation, through a friend of a friend of a and said John, John,

reading your story, reading your book made me go to the doctors, I

had a lump and I would never have gone if I hadn't read your book.

That makes me feel, well, I have saved people's lives. But ultimately

I was only doing, I don't want credit for that, I was doing what

comes naturally to me, like somebody saved my life. Back at the golf day

and it is time to sign soccer shirts for the charity fundraising auction,

followed by the golf day prize giving. I wouldn't say shocked is

the word, but very, very overwhelming, the amount of support

I have had, people coming from all over Great Britain today and for me

to play in my golf day, and to support the foundation. So something

that is very DLOES my heart and hopefully we can do this type of

event annually. The foursome led by former manager and player Neil

Lennon put in the top round. It was while at Celtic that John first

discovered a lump around his testicle, but rather than get it

checked out he ignored it. Meanwhile his marriage was in trouble, he

separated from his wife, and she moved back to Wales with his

daughter and son. John had met a new partner, Sarah. The turmoil in his

private life and the long distance commute to see his children took its

toll. I believe the stress I put myself under, the constant worry,

the constant guilt, that I was feeling deep inside. Something blew.

I lost my fight and I lost my fight with football and playing, I think.

Celtic sold John to West Brom and he moved to the Midlands for a quieter

life with Sarah, he still failed to get the lump examined. I was sad, I

was sad. I never saw him play for West Brom, I didn't want to. Because

it wasn't John's best days, I knew he was coming to the end and he was

down in his personal life, he was only about 32, 33. Not seeing my

kids sort of played really heavily on my mentally and physically. I was

driving back and forth to Swansea twice a week to see my kids, and I

didn't have a house, and I would book into the Marriott Hotel and cry

my way back to Birmingham in the car, Big John Hartson and I would be

crying, leaving my kids. He was missing his children dreadfully and

taking it out of him travelling backwards and forwards, I think he

was worried about them and it was taking his mind off his training and

I think that if things had been different he may have carried on

playing football. But I think it was the right time for him to move on

and do something else. You know, maybe to move away from Birmingham,

move back to Swansea. So in 2008 John hung up his boots for good, his

heart wasn't in it any more. He moved with Sarah pregnant with

John's third child, Lena, home to Swansea and was revitalised with all

his family round him and a new job commentating. Finally in 2009, after

three years of ignoring the lump, he had it examined. The doctor put some

gloves on and he sort of got this fob and scanned around my testicle,

he said John, you have a tumour underneath your scrotum, and this

tumour was connected to one of my testicles. He said that it is

testicular cancer. I never had been told anything on the scale as

something like that. It is silly when they say cancer your initial

thoughts are I'm going to die. That is what you think when you get told

you have cancer. I went out to the car park, having been given the

diagnosis and, sorry the news, and then I started to cry really, and it

hit me that the full scale of what I had just been told. Days later, on

top of the shock of the diagnosis, John was suffering with severe

headaches andlet that ghee, which he --let that ghee -- Lethargy, he was

on the point of collapse. I was on the way to hospital, he had his head

in his hands, he was in agony, we got to the hospital and faced with a

million questions, I don't suppose everyone goes to hospital with a bad

head. He was being sick, he was sick, it was like mud, it was black.

It was just awful. He just said, I feel terrible. I feel so ill. Any

way they thought he had a virus on the Friday evening. And they kept

him in overnight, on the Saturday they ransom tests. At this point

John is in a ward and he was lying in the bed, there was myself and

Cyril, John's dad in the room and the doctor came in, that was the

first time that they told us then that this was cancer. That had

spread, testicular cancer, spread up through John's lungs into his brain,

he had seven or eight tumours, the reason for the headaches is because

one of the tumours had started to haemorrhage. I have never been an

overly religious person, but I started to pray, pray for my life,

pray to be around for my children. There were multiple deposits in the

brain, no way there could be taken out surgically, too many of them,

but it was important to relieve the pressure in the brain, which the new

surgeon did with a procedure. I wouldn't have fancied his chances if

we hadn't got in to theatre that night. This is high pressure inside

the brain that can kill. I knew I was in serious trouble, I knew I

was, I knew it was very serious, I could tell on the looks of my

family's face. There was one period, there was one moment where I asked

my brother James, because I felt I could really trust James to make

this happen for me, and I was feeling very low at one stage, and I

said to my brother I said I think I'm going... I... . I said to my

brother James, because I felt I could trust him, and I said I think

I'm going to go tonight. And... I can remember saying to him just make

sure my children are OK. You know. I wanted him to make sure that my

children were going to be sort of well looked after. I was going off

duty that morning after a long night shift here in ICU. I said to my

partner who also works here and a member of the team, I said that poor

man and his family, I honestly don't know if he will be here tonight when

we come back on duty. And he was. That seemed a turning point, with

Sarah expecting his fourth child, Stephaine, Big John was refusing to

go. But he was still in a coma and needed further operations. I was

pregnant then again, I had just found out that I was pregnant,

obviously the week before. So I talked to him about this new baby

coming and about Lena, about John and Rebecca, and trying to give him

positive thoughts. He was in intensive care for I think it was

about four weeks, and the lounge up there we called it the John Hartson

Lounge, because it was just never empty except at nights when I would

sleep there, you know, on the seat, I wouldn't leave there. He had I

think about 70 sessions of chemotherapy. He had radiotherapy.

He was so ill in bed, so, so ill, and I said you will walk out of here

with me John, you will walk out. He also was surrounded by the most

fantastic supportive family. They were you know there all the time and

in credit and fairness to the family, throughout they let us get

on with our job to that I know we remain eternally grateful. There

were cards and sacks of cards coming to the house, coming to the

hospital, it is one of the things that I did, when John was in

intensive care, when he was on the ventilator, I would read out the

cards. I don't know whether he could hear me or not, but in case he could

I would read the cards out to him. As the days went by you became aware

that all of a sudden this was someone for whom there was a huge

amount of respect throughout the world for his career. But when he

came in I didn't realise the love that there was for John out there.

During one memorable break in the treatment, he took a trip to

Scotland visiting his in-laws. Seeing Britain's biggest mountain,

John vowed to climb it one year after his emergency surgery, if he

could conquer the mountain he could conquer cancer. We were in the

garden one day sitting outside, he said when I get better I'm going to

climb Ben Nevis, I'm going to climb ma mountain. I thought -- climb that

mountain, I thought that is not Ben Nevis, but I didn't have the heart

to tell him it wasn't. The Ben Nevis climb is an annual event, with

friends and family and others fundraising for his charity.

Sometimes I feel the reason why I lived was to help others. Because I

was so drastically ill. I was on death's door, you know, I really

was. I feel very blessed, I feel very lucky to still be here. People

say to me John why do you bother with the foundation, it must be a

bit of a ball ache now and then, typical, "ball ache", that is what I

want to say about that. But it must lie heavy on you, you have your BBC

stuff, and your four kids. And I say back to them when I go and give a

cheque for ?50,000 to a Children's Hospital, cancer unit, you cannot

replace that. The joy on the nurses and the doctors, these incredible

people who do so much for kids' cancer, you cannot put a price on me

handing that cheque over and how that makes me feel. At Yorkhill

Hospital in Glasgow, special electronic tablets paid for by the

foundation help children understand their treatment and overcome their

fears, which in turn improves their rate of recovery. "The needle may go

in your hand, or foot". The young little boy is having a needle in the

hand, same as you. Is it that one? Bobby gets an IV, canula, that one I

think. Even in a Children's Hospital John is recognised by a dad and West

Ham fan. Checky, can I have a picture? Of course you can, how are

you doing. I'm John. I'm good thanks. I'm a fan of yours, you and

Paul Kitson. West Ham fans everywhere, even in Glasgow! Even in

Glasgow. As well as raising money, John also has to earn it. A second

talent for story telling and straight talking his led to a

flourishing career in the media. First of all I'm working, I'm

working tonight for BBC Radio 5 Live, part of my contract, I do the

BBC television and also the radio as well. Obviously up at this fantastic

new stadium, the Emirates, and of course they are playing the team I

have supported since I was a young boy, Swansea City, both teams

looking for points it is a great game. Both sides of the division

really, both ends of the division. So looking forward to it, I'm just

going to take my place there now and do a little bit of prep work and

have a look at the recent form which I pretty much know any way. I'm very

much looking forward to it, it should be a good night. Does a good

job, he's insightful, he likes his job, I know that. He would still be

watching football if he want getting paid for it from the BBC. They have

asked me to go on the pitch at half time, the Arsenal back room staff.

They get a former player every home game to come on to the pitch and

they ask you a few questions about when I first arrived at Arsenal, why

was it Arsenal. So I'm very much looking forward to that as well, I

will probably get a better reception from the away fans as the home. As a

man who wears his heart on his sleeve, Big John sometimes struggles

to suppress the passionate fan inside. If, instead of his favourite

Swansea it was rivals Cardiff at Arsenal, where would his loyalties

lie, with the fellow Welsh team? Absolutely not. Don't be so

ridiculous, I played for Arsenal, at 19 years of age. It has nothing to

do with Swansea and Cardiff, I played for Arsenal. But a Welsh club

playing an England club? Were you there when the Cardiff City fans

booed me playing for Wales, were you there when I was 19 playing for

Luton Town and I got slaughtered by the Cardiff City fans, were you

there? You weren't. Conscious of Cardiff City's enmity to them, John

tries to be impartial as he reaches the pinnacle of pundit as he has

appearances on Match of the Day. I'm a Swansea fan, that will never leave

me, but if Cardiff City play well, I'm honest enough and brazen enough

to say that they will play well. That might upset a few Swansea City

fans, you really can't win. Even selecting goal of the month is

controversial. A lot of great goals I have to say. Some great volleys.

Which one did you pick? I have gone with Jordan Much, Cardiff versus

Fulham. I hope this clears up any conspiracy theories I have against

Cardiff. This wins the game, last minute, Mackay would have been

delighted to have Fulham with a point, but what a fantastic strike

from Jordan. I have nothing to do with that decision whatsoever. It is

great to go on there with Alan, Shearer and John, and we really

enjoy working to the. It is quite nerve racking, but it is great job,

representing south and North Wales on Match of the Day. It is the

biggest show in football. It is iconic show. When you hear the

music, you ask John, when we are both on it, you are on the most

iconic footballing show in possibly the world. It is great. John is

especially in his element when he savours the skill of a striker, such

as the current Welsh wonder Gareth Bale. He may not grab all the

headlines from Spurs win today, but he still played. He had a huge

influence on the game. Gareth Bale, you can see him here, timed his run

perfectly, on side. A lot of strikers would stick it there to

Chesney, he lets it run across his body and equisite finish. As a

leading pundit, how would John rate himself as a player? I would say I

had a good touch for a big man. I would say I was a good character on

the pitch. I was never quiet, I was never nervous, I always voiced my

opinion in the dressing room if I had to. I was brave and I was a

natural goal scorer. You know, and I think all throughout my career I

scored goals. He enjoys the punditry, and I think he fancies it,

I think I was nearly joking with him, he's now discrediting some

players for work that he didn't do himself, he makes me smile when he

said that player was rather lazy, he didn't get back into position, or he

didn't get into the penalty box in time, or he didn't hold it up or do

those things, I think John, not so sure you did all those things there

for me! But the media work means more than just money. His growing

popularity is leading to Big John becoming an ambassador for the game,

travelling to Afghanistan with the Prime Minister to raise troop more

rail, strengthen relations with the Afghani soccer set up and film the

BBC's Football Focus. I have a question for John, John a few years

ago you almost signed for Spurs, the word on the grapevine was because of

the Arsenal connection you chucked a sicky on the medical, any truth in

that? Absolutely not! No truth in that whatsoever. I think seeing the

Prime Minister here this morning and talking about the FA's backing that

they have given to the Afghan National League and the national

side, I don't think it is a foregone conclusion in years to come that

they could qualify for a major tournament. I think we heard this

morning that they have a player playing in the Bundesliga for

Dortmund and the National League of India, who knows maybe the Premier

League one day, if we get players from Afghanistan playing in the

Premier League it will enhance the National League and the national

side. Five years on from the night he almost died, John still has to

return to the hospital for regular check-ups, in case the cancer

returns. Although I have been discharged from the hospital, in

terms of being given the full clean bill of health, they still want to

keep on seeing me in terms of every six or eight month or every 12

months, just to see if I'm sort of staying all-clear, basically. But

they were quite a nervous time initially because you always wonder

whether it is going to come back at any stage, or whether the blood

markers are normal. Lovely to see you again. Are you OK? Right John,

if it is OK with you we will pop you on the couch and clinically examine

your tummy and groin and see if you are OK. You know the form. This is

where we pull the curtain for a couple of minutes. As you know

everything is fine, clinically we have examined you and no lumps or

bumps, nothing out of the ordinary, as far as we are concerned you are

doing really, really well and disease-free, and we anticipate you

being that. All I need you to do now is visit one of the receptionists at

the desk and make an appointment to see me in six months time. OK? Thank

you very much. Lovely to see you. While John remains clear of cancer

he thought after the operations and treatment he would never be a father

again. Then in April this year, Paige Faith Hartson was born, his

fifth child. She was a little sur price, because I never really

thought after Lena and Stephaine that we would have any more, but she

appeared, and little miracle really, when you think of how your sperm can

be affected with the cancer and all the chemotherapy I had, I had over

70 sessions at one point. But she came and she's fantastic. She is our

little special one. Keep going, 100. Meanwhile the next generation of

Hartson footballers is up and running, with John's son Johnny

playing for Swansea Academy with a bit of extra training from his dad.

120 keep going. It will be dark in a minute! Very proud of my boy today,

just the character and the spirit, just to keep going, look, mental

strength that is. Good boy Johnny that is 240. The definition of bliss

is having all my children around me at once. You know, that is one of my

happiest, when I have all my children and I'm in a restaurant or

I'm just in a cafe or I'm at the cinema, anything when I'm with my

children, you know. That's when I'm totally at my happiest and my most

contented is when they are with me. All different characters, all

different, but all the same dad. You see that out there, him out there is

a man. It is a dolphin. It is a man. It is a dolphin!

# Don't let us get sick # Don't let us get old

# Don't let us get stupid all right # Just make us be brave

# Make us play nice # Let us be