THE Evening Times today announced a double swoop as Celtic and Rangers legends John Hartson and Lee McCulloch signed on as our new columnists.

The pair will provide weekly insight into all the goings on at Parkhead and Ibrox, starting tomorrow as the build-up to the Scottish Cup semi-finals begins.

Here, we take a look back at the pair’s contributions to their respective Glasgow clubs as players. 

John Hartson

Hartson became the most expensive teenage footballer in Britain when Arsenal paid £2.5m to capture him from Luton Town in January 1995.

He spent two years in North London before spells at West Ham and Wimbledon, where his career could have taken a very different turn.

The striker almost signed for Rangers while at the Dons but failed a medical, so the move broke down.

Six months later, he joined Celtic in a £6m deal.

Glasgow Times:

During his time at Parkhead, Hartson was part of the team that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final in Seville, but the striker missed the heartbreak final due to injury as Martin O’Neill’s side were beaten 3-2 by Porto.

By the end of his time at the Hoops, his medal collection included three Scottish Premiership titles, a Scottish League Cup and two Scottish Cups as well as SFWA Player of the Year and Scottish PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards.

In a green and white shirt, he grabbed an impressive 109 goals across five years, to the tune of:

“There's only one John Hartson, there's only one John Hartson, He's got no hair, but we don't care, Walking in a Hartson Wonderland!”

Lee McCulloch

On the other side of Glasgow, utility man McCulloch became adored by the Rangers faithful during his time in Govan.

McCulloch spent eight years at Ibrox between 2007 and 2015, playing in the side that reached the UEFA Cup final in 2008 but lost to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.

The former Scotland internationalist won three Scottish Premiership titles, a Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups and was deployed in defence, midfield and attack in a Light Blue shirt.

Before Kilmarnock’s goalless Scottish Cup fifth-round draw with Rangers in February 2016, while in interim charge of Killie, he received an amazing response from the Gers fans.

Glasgow Times:

They unfurled a two-part banner which read: 'Thanks for the memories Super Lee McCulloch' while chanting his name, reinforcing how much the supporters appreciated the hard work and loyalty shown during his time at Ibrox.  

McCulloch helped the club clinch Third Division and League One titles in 2013 and 2014 before departing to join Killie as a player/coach in July 2015.

In total, he scored 52 goals in 209 games for the club across eight campaigns.

READ JOHN HARTSON AND LEE MCCULLOCH'S FIRST EVENING TIMES COLUMNS ON TUESDAY AT EVENINGTIMES.CO.UK/SPORT.