Nick Anderton says playing the game he's loved for the last 10 years has been an "absolute pleasure" after the Bristol Rovers defender has regrettably announced his retirement from professional football the day before his 27th birthday.
Anderton has been undergoing a course of chemotherapy since December having been diagnosed for osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, last July after he underwent a routine scan on what he thought was a leg injury.
In a statement posted on his Instagram and Twitter pages, the former Blackpool, Carlisle United, Accrington Stanley and Barrow defender has confirmed he’s been forced to retire from the game due to his illness and the subsequent treatment and operations he's required, having made 233 senior appearances since making his debut for Gateshead in 2014, while on loan from Preston North End.
"I've had six months to prepare some words for this moment and I still don't know what to say," Anderton wrote. "It's been extremely difficult to come to terms with but I've decided today is the day to announce at the age of 26 I have to retire from professional football.
"This is due to an operation I had in October 2022 to remove a cancerous tumour from my right femur. This resulted in a complete knee replacement, and a further 12cm of my femur replaced. There was optimism that I could return to playing after the initial planned operation/treatment but a scan five days prior revealed it would not be safe if they didn't replace the full joint, therefore the operation changed.
"Looking back on the last 10 years, I have nothing but fond memories. To every club I've represented, thank you for the opportunity. To every manager and coach I've worked under, thank you for the time you've invested in me. To every player I've shared a dressing room with and every player I've competed against on the pitch, thank you. It's been an absolute pleasure.
"I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who sent messages, donated and said a prayer. Your kind words and support for my family throughout this journey has been incredible and we can't thank you enough. It's given me even more motivation to continue fighting and to complete every single millilitre of chemotherapy that I need. Thank you, Nick."
Anderton’s story has proven a painful but inspirational influence behind Rovers’ campaign in League One with the defender a key part of the squad that earned promotion on the final day of last season.
His No16 jersey is hung in the dressing room before every game, while supporters have conducted a minute’s applause in the 16th minute of each match at the Mem this season.
To date, a fundraiser set up for him has raised £46,000, with the Gas squad famously shaving their heads in solidarity with him in January, while supporters have also rallied round through a variety of schemes, including Nik Weeks running seven marathons in seven days. Manager Joey Barton also completed the Manchester marathon last week to fulfil a promise to Anderton whose contract with Rovers expires this summer.
To donate to the fundraising appeal for Nick Anderton and his family, click here
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