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Dermot Desmond’s Broken John Hartson Promise

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John Hartson has shared a story about his 2001 transfer to Celtic, revealing an unusual tactic used to convince him to join the Hoops.

John Hartson and Craig Gordon
11th March 2023; Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Cup Football, Hearts versus Celtic; Craig Gordon and John Hartson chat as they walk along the touchline

During negotiations over his £6 million move, Hartson received a call from Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, who added an intriguing twist to the process.

Desmond, a passionate Golf fan with connections in the sport, sweetened the deal by offering Hartson the chance to play Golf with none other than Tiger Woods—one of the most famous athletes in the world.

“I took the phone call from him and I went ‘Hello?’ and he went ‘hiya John, Dermot Desmond here’.

“So, I’m just about to put the phone down now, and he said, ‘John, are you a golf fan?’

“I said ‘I love my Golf.’

“And he said, ‘Would you like me to arrange a game? myself, Tiger Woods, and you could choose another one to come and play with us?’

“I was overwhelmed and said, ‘I would adore that, he’s one of my heroes Mr Desmond’

“From that phone call to today, I’ve not heard another word from Mr Desmond.”

While the promise of a round with Woods never came to fruition, the gesture showcased the creative lengths Celtic were willing to go to secure Hartson’s signature. Hartson, who had recently seen moves to Tottenham and Rangers collapse due to concerns over his fitness, found Celtic’s approach appealing, and it didn’t take long before he agreed to join Martin O’Neill’s side.

The rest, as they say, is History. Despite the initial concerns surrounding his fitness, Hartson became a key player during his five-year stint at Celtic Park, scoring over 100 goals and establishing himself as a fan favourite. His partnership with Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton in O’Neill’s formidable strike force helped bring success to the club during a memorable era.

Though the Golf Game with Tiger Woods never materialised, Hartson’s move to Celtic turned out to be one of the best decisions of his career.

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