Nick Anderton

Bristol Rovers On 26 May 2021, Anderton signed a two-year contract with recently relegated League Two side Bristol Rovers, with effect from 1 July 2021. Anderton made his debut for the club on the opening day of the season, starting as a central defender as Rovers' return to League Two started with a late defeat at Mansfield Town. On 30 October 2021, Anderton opened his account for the club when he scored the only goal as Rovers got an impressive away win at high-flying Harrogate Town with his scuffed effort in the 64th minute settling the match. Anderton played an important role as he achieved a first career promotion with Rovers' 7–0 victory over Scunthorpe United on the final day of the season seeing them move into third position on goals scored.

Cancer diagnosis On 28 July 2022, it was announced that Anderton had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, requiring him to undergo an operation on his femur. On the opening day of the 2022–23 season, as Rovers hosted Forest Green Rovers, both sets of players wore shirts in the warm-up to show their support for Anderton; there was also applause in the sixteenth minute of the match, representing Anderton's shirt number at Rovers. During the match, after Aaron Collins equalised, he dedicated the goal to his teammate, holding up a replica shirt with Anderton's name on the back. After the match, manager Joey Barton said that Anderton's surgery would likely leave him unable to walk for a year, vowing that both he and the club would support the player and his young family with Barton promising to run the London Marathon in order to raise money for him.

Anderton underwent a successful treatment in October 2022 to remove the tumour. However, in December, it was revealed that the tumour had been sent off for further analysis following the operation, revealing that the cancerous cells were more aggressive than previously thought and that Anderton would require chemotherapy treatment. Anderton said he was "taken aback" by the support he received.

In order to raise funds for the player, Bristol Rovers started several local initiatives, while manager Barton, as well as the rest of the playing and coaching staff, decided to shave their heads on 16 January 2023, showing support for Anderton and encouraging the club's supporters to do the same, in order to raise awareness of the subject.

Anderton retired from professional football in April 2023, aged 26. In a message published on social media in June 2023, Anderton revealed that he was entering his final week of chemotherapy. On 1 September 2023, he confirmed that following 28 weeks of chemotherapy and a knee operation, he was free of bone cancer.

Coaching career In January 2024, Anderton was appointed assistant head coach of National League club AFC Fylde. On 15 September 2024, AFC Fylde parted company with both manager Chris Beech and Anderton following a poor start to the season.

Career statistics

Honours Bristol Rovers League Two promotion: 2021–22