Big John Hartson captivated an audience, speaking with honesty for over an hour about his illustrious playing career as a professional footballer on stage at the Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest.

“An evening with John Hartson” was sponsored by the Western Telegraph and was warmly received by an appreciative and knowledgeable crowd.

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,” so he sacrificed winning any silverware with the Gunners under Arsène Wenger.

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 laden silverware seasons in Scotland.

But the proudest moment for Big John was playing for his country Wales. “I’m a passionate 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.

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 training that made the main BBC news read by Trevor McDonald.

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 means 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 miraclously 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, 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.