In August 2000 John Hartson was a failed medical away from joining the tax-payer funded revolution at Ibrox.
On the back of a 6-2 hammering from Martin O’Neill’s Celtic Dave Murray had to do something. The only management tactic that he knew was to reach for the cheque-book which we now know was funded from elsewhere.
Hartson and Ronald de Boer were drafted in in a grand show of Murray’s strength.
Come on Celtic ???????????? pic.twitter.com/PfVvT7wZ7R
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) December 29, 2018
Fortunately for Celtic Hartson failed the Ibrox medical, a year later he was a Celtic player and an essential part of O’Neill’s drive for glory. He scored over 100 goals for Celtic, de Boer struggled to 40 and retired straight after his Ibrox payday.
Derby day goals define strikers and Hartson enjoyed more than his fair share. Goals at Ibrox where he failed his medical were a special pleasure.
While others distance themselves from Celtic as they move into the media Hartson doesn’t pretend that he is anything other than a hoops supporter and earns respect for that.
