Former Albion striker John Hartson has retired at the age of 32 after admitting defeat in his battle to stay in shape.
he ex-Celtic striker was released by the Baggies 10 days ago and he has now confirmed he is hanging up his boots.
Hartson was frozen out for most of the season by Albion boss Tony Mowbray as he struggled for fitness and saw Kevin Phillips, Ishmael Miller, Roman Bednar and Craig Beattie leave him trailing in the race for places.
He said: “They say you should go down the leagues and just play for enjoyment because it will be easier. It isn’t.
“I have been fighting my weight for 12 years. I can’t have a burger without putting on half a stone.”
Hartson, who won 50 caps, has decided to quit rather than play on in the lower leagues.
He said: “A part of my life has been winding down and, yes, I’m going to miss that competitive edge. That was my weekend, after all, letting off steam and terrorising centre-halves.
“I’m not going to miss training though. To be honest I’d lost my desire to get back into the West Brom side.”
And Hartson admitted he now understood a warning for Gordon Strachan when the Celtic boss allowed him to move to The Hawthorns in 2006. “Gordon warned me the fire inside me would go some day and now it has. You don’t get that back,” Hartson said.
The striker who began his career at Luton and had spells with Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon and Coventry, and a loan at Norwich, was not prepared to end his playing career at a low level.
32 Comments
Shame he took so much of our cash before admitting it.
“ I can’t have a burger without putting on half a stone.”
He must have had lots of Burgers then !!
the problem john, isnt one burger, its several
HALF A STONE FROM ONE BURGER! WELL DON’T EAT BURGERS THEN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GIVE EVERYTHING TO BE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER AND HE JUST GIVES UP BECAUSE HE LIKES HIS JUNK FOOD.
WHAT A WASTE OF TALENT.
BUT I GUESS HE’S MADE HIS MONEY NOW, WHICH MUST OF COME FIRST BEFORE HIS PASSION OF PLAYING FOOTBALL.
“I have been fighting my weight for 12 years. I can’t have a burger without putting on half a stone.”
No, the biggest problem was stopping at one. What he also failed to mention was the fish,pie,kebab,15 rounds of bread & butter,battered sausage & diet coke that went with it!
Maybe he will now open a burger bar outside The Hawthorns. All seriousness, best of luck John. He was a good professional!
“I’m not going to miss training though. To be honest I’d lost my desire to get back into the West Brom side.”
How disgusting is this to read, did he ever mention this to Mowbray, did he ever say Boss i have no desire to play for this club, can you stop paying me. I did wish him well when he was released, but now stuff him take you easy come money you’ve picked up since joining us and go blow it on as many burgers as you like.
WASTE OF ALOT OF SPACE.
Make smy blood boil to hear this sort of unprofessional claptrap. He comes across as a journeyman waster who had a nice comfy twilight zone at our expense. We won’t miss you.
Are you Elvis?,
Are You Elvis?,
Are You Elvis In Disguise?
Are You Elvis In Disguise.
Amother terrible Judas Robson signing along with Zubi what ever.
hmmm play for the albion or have a big mac? well I guess it’s a no brainer!
Lets face it, his career went downhill the minute he left Arsenal!
To admit the desire had gone is like saying he wasn’t trying and therefore he was not doing his job.
I think he was motivated to play for Robbo but as soon as he left the writing was on the wall. The other thing is he must have been demotivated by others like kamara, and phillips who scored regularly and were fitter than he was. He knew his chances of getting a game were limited and gave up.
I don’t think on 17k a week that is excusable - I can see how it is understandable. However he does not deserve any pity.
I hope we didn’t pay him off.
Cruel but a headline from Gunnersblog says it all - “how fat will Hartson Get now he is not playing”
Good luck in the battle against the buldge Big John- it’s something many fans have to battle with too.
Sad these fans? didnt see you in your prime John
If coventry signed you a couple of months earlier insetead of worrying about injuries they wouldnt of gone down.
You put the Huns in their place and the goal at the Nou Camp for the 1-1 was a high light for me a great evening in Catalonia.
Shame, a once good footballer has left himself open to ridicule,
and thats all i want to say on this matter.
With profound apologies to our resident blogger Jarrod, i`m not trying to steal you`re thunder,
but on a quiet day, i would like to try and get some “blogging” going.
I was going through things at home the other day,
namely my old 45s and i came across a dog eared publication,
it was a commemorative brochure of our centenary 1879-1979,
reading with interest for the first time in nearly three decades,
there was a congratulations message from a certain Eric Clapton.
It said, along the lines of
“congratulations to Albion, the board,chiarman,and players on your centenary from your most devoted fan”
Err…no disrespect to Mr Slowhand,
but i`m guessing his devotion to the Albion these days is what he reads in the media.
It got me thinking about our celebrity fans, who are they ?
do they go to games ?
I know Adrian Chiles and Frank Skinner are regulars,
the other week i saw the guy that was once the mechanic in Coronation street (cant think of his name)
Robert Plant is a regular at Wolves (i think) as is
the boil-in-the-bag hits guru
Pete Waterman at the Saddlers.
Who knows of anyone else ?
It’s a pity you didn’t see the best of Big Bad John. I wasn’t keen when Celtic signed him, but he scored some great goals for us and there were games like the one against Lyon (I think) in the Champions League where he won every ball that went into the box and had a massive impact. He really did terrorise centre halves and is a presence that we never really replaced. He could turn on a sixpence despite his size and had a great shot. Best of luck John.
think we should remind robson on tuesday night who bought this great lump of lard.
“A part of my life is winding down”……….I think he’d wound fully down before he came to us….what a waste of money….!!!
wbaforever,
here goes,
Matthew Marsden (guy from coro)
Goran Ivanisevic (tennis legend)
Adrian Chiles (BBC)
Frank Skinner (Entertainer)
Cat Deeley (Presenter, sometimes goes with her Dad and Brother)
And yes i have heard this before about Clapton but never seen him!!!
Seen all the above apart from Ivanisevic, i know there is a guy who holds a very important job for national intelligence that is a season ticket holder, but rather spookily i cannot recall his name!!! No honestly i cannot remember his name, maybe he flashed me in the eye with some sort of memeory zapper!!
He has let himself down and his profesion when you think of good pros losing there fitness battle like Appleton,brian litle and yesterday clive clark who had a heart attack at leicester.A well as taking us for a ride for all that money,a fit hartson could have breezed the championship what a waste of talent.
If ever proof was needed that there are footballers who hold the game in contempt and are only in it for themselves, then here it is.
You have filled your pockets and your belly, and no doubt would have continued to take the money if your contract had not been terminated.
Thank goodness the club acted to get you out.
You are a disgrace to your profession, a lazy man with an inflated opinion of your own importance. You have been lucky enough to have earned enough to be able to retire at 32. You could have given back to the game by passing on your talents to others in lower leagues, but no not you. I am sorry to say I have nothing but contempt for you and all of those like you. Thank goodness for the likes of Kev Phillips, at least they appreciate what they have had and what they can to offer others. And as such show a good example to loyal fans and more importantly the young.
Why am I not surprised you have tried to justify your lazy attitude as a loss of desire and as for missing the competitive edge… if that were true you would carry on playing. You forget some football fans have something you do not…..intelligence and can see through your pitiful attempts to justify your bone idleness and lack of self respect.
Good riddance to fat rubbish
A sad waste of talent and disagreeing with (6) not a good professional.
He had the support of top trainers and dieticians at the age of only 30 and still could not keep fit. That was his job and he should have been sacked, as alot of people would have been, for showing similar disregard.
Look at Kevin Phillips, now that’s a “good professional”.
Thanks to baggiesworld.com
West Brom fans incluse
Eric Clapton - musician
Paul Clifford - Wonderstuff bass guitarist
Adrian Childs - BBC 5 Live radio presenter
David Cox - Fine Young Cannibals
Cat Deeley - TV presenter - ex MTV, SMTV
Adrian Goldberg - BBC 5 Live radio presenter
Dean Hedley - cricketer
Lenny Henry - comedian, actor
Ann Jones - former tennis player and newsreader
Charley Jordan - Radio 1 DJ
Matthew Marsden - Coronation Street actor turned singer
Richard Orford - TV Presenter (ex. Big Breakfast)
Jeff Prestridge - Financial editor of the Daily Mail
Andy Robinson - comedian
Frank Skinner - comedian/TV Presenter - Fantasy Football League, Frank Skinner show, Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned
Andy Steele - Fine Young Cannibals
Richie Woodall - boxer
Will Wyatt - Chief Executive of BBC broadcast
“To be honest I’d lost my desire to get back into the West Brom side.”
Well, you would wouldn’t you really…
My favorite “celebrity” albion fan has got to be Lawrence of Arabia.
Honestly - he was born near west brom and he was a fan !!
Beat that !
22 Stu:
And your point is?
Should’ve gone to Specsavers!
Kent - I know what Stu’s point is - he is joining in a debate started on this page.
Not sure what YOUR point was exactly…?
Why not join in - who is the most famous boo-er at wolves these days ? My bet is Jez moxey.
Many people struggle with their weight because of a hectic lifestyle which restricts time available to exercise. A professional footballer doesn’t have this excuse. If I had the time and money available he had, I would be as fit as a fiddle.
Mad O’Rourke’s in Tipton has called in the liquidators after hearing this story!!!!
Im worried for John.
Now he is not training, and can eat what he wants with his big pay off, how big is he going to get?
Has anyone ever seen John Hartson and Homer Simpson in the same room?
TRB - yes i have…. what a party that was.
reports suggest that wolves are tempting Hartson with an offer to bring him out of retirement, lets hope its not a burger!! good look John…