Nick Anderton

Nick Anderton

Anderton playing for Bristol Rovers in 2022.
Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Jack Wilmer Anderton [1]
Date of birth	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth	Preston, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2]
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	AFC Fylde (assistant head coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2016	Preston North End	0	(0)
2014	→ Chorley (loan)
2014	→ Gateshead (loan)	4	(0)
2014–2015	→ Barrow (loan)	9	(0)
2015	→ Aldershot Town (loan)	11	(0)
2015–2016	→ Barrow (loan)	21	(0)
2016–2017	Barrow	43	(1)
2017–2020	Blackpool	16	(0)
2018–2019	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	22	(0)
2020–2021	Carlisle United	49	(4)
2021–2023	Bristol Rovers	34	(1)
Total		209	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nicholas Jack Wilmer Anderton (born 22 April 1996) is an English coach and former professional footballer who played as a left back and is the assistant head coach of AFC Fylde.

Career

Born in Preston, ^[2] Anderton began his career at Preston North End, moving on loan to Chorley in March 2014 alongside Alex Nicholson. ^[3] He turned professional in May 2014, at the same time as Jack Ryan. ^[4] He joined Gateshead on loan in October 2014, ^[5] and Barrow in December 2014, ^[6] although the latter loan ended early due to injury. ^[7] He moved on loan to Aldershot Town in August 2015, ^[8] before returning to Barrow on loan in November 2015. ^{[6] [9]} He signed permanently for Barrow in May 2016, signing a two-year contract. ^{[6] [10]} In January 2017 he was linked with a transfer to Bradford City, amongst purported interest from other Football League clubs. ^[11] He signed for Blackpool in June 2017. ^[12] He moved on loan to Accrington Stanley in August 2018. ^[13]

Anderton signed an eighteen-month contract with Carlisle United on 16 January 2020. ^[14] Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Anderton was appointed as club captain. ^[15]

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. ^{[16] [17]} 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. ^[18] 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. ^[19] 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. ^[20]

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. ^{[21] [22]} 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. ^[23] 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. ^[24]

Anderton underwent a successful treatment in October 2022 to remove the tumour. ^[25] 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. ^{[26] [27]} Anderton said he was "taken aback" by the support he received. ^[28]

In order to raise funds for the player, Bristol Rovers started several local initiatives, ^[29] 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. ^{[30] [31]}

Anderton retired from professional football in April 2023, aged 26. ^{[32] [33]} In a message published on social media in June 2023, Anderton revealed that he was entering his final week of chemotherapy. ^[34] On 1 September 2023, he confirmed that following 28 weeks of chemotherapy and a knee operation, he was free of bone cancer. ^[35]

Coaching career

In January 2024, Anderton was appointed assistant head coach of National League club AFC Fylde. ^{[36] [37]}

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Preston North End	2014–15 [38]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2015–16 [39]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Gateshead (loan)	2014–15 [2]	Conference Premier	4	0	1	0	—		0	0	5	0
Barrow (loan)	2014–15 [2]	Conference North	9	0	0	0	—		0	0	9	0
Aldershot Town (loan)	2015–16 [2]	National League	11	0	0	0	—		0	0	11	0
Barrow (loan)	2015–16 [2]	National League	21	0	0	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	23	0
Barrow	2016–17 [2]	National League	43	1	5	0	—		5 [lower-alpha 1]	0	53	1
Blackpool	2017–18 [40]	League One	4	0	1	0	1	0	5 [lower-alpha 2]	0	11	0
	2018–19 [41]	League One	10	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	11	0
	2019–20 [42]	League One	2	0	0	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	5	0
	Total		16	0	1	0	3	0	7	0	27	0
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2018–19 [41]	League One	22	0	0	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	25	0
Carlisle United	2019–20 [42]	League Two	10	2	—		—		—		10	2
	2020–21 [43]	League Two	39	2	2	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	43	2
	Total		49	4	2	0	1	0	1	0	53	4
Bristol Rovers	2021–22 [44]	League Two	34	1	3	1	1	0	1	1	39	3
	2022–23 [45]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		34	1	3	1	1	0	1	1	39	3
Career total			209	6	12	1	5	0	19	1	245	8

1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Bristol Rovers

• League Two promotion: 2021–22 ^[46]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackpool" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
2. Nick Anderton at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
3. "Duo Join Chorley". Preston North End F.C. 27 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
4. Joe Cooper (20 May 2014). "Nick Anderton Over The Moon With Professional Contract". Preston North End F.C. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
5. Steve Brown (31 October 2014). "Gateshead land left-back Nick Anderton on a month loan from Preston". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
6. "Profile". Barrow A.F.C. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
7. "PNE ace Anderton back in fine nick!". Lancashire Evening Post. 5 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
8. "Nick Anderton: Aldershot sign Preston North End defender". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
9. Richard Land (11 December 2015). "Barrow AFC manager delighted with hunger of loan ace Nick". North-West Evening Mail. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
10. Richard Land (30 May 2016). "Bluebirds complete deal to sign Wilmer-Anderton from Preston". North-West Evening Mail. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
11. Simon Parker (30 January 2017). "UPDATED: Bantams look elsewhere after Anderton link". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
12. "Nick Anderton: Blackpool sign full-back from Barrow ahead of new League One season". BBC Sport. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
13. "Nick Anderton: Accrington Stanley sign Blackpool defender on loan". BBC Sport. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
14. "CONTRACT: Left back joins the Blues". Carlisle United F.C. 16 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
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18. "Mansfield Town 2–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
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21. "Club Statement - Nick Anderton". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
22. "Bristol Rovers' Anderton diagnosed with bone cancer". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
23. Jones, Jordan (31 July 2022). "Bristol Rovers goal dedicated to Nick Anderton as they and Forest Green make classy gesture". Bristolworld. Bristol World. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
24. Frost, Sam (31 July 2022). "Joey Barton opens up on Nick Anderton's cancer diagnosis and Bristol Rovers' pledge to defender". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
25. "Joey Barton wants Nick Anderton back at Bristol Rovers in any capacity after cancer operation". Bristol Post. 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
26. "Club Statement: Nick Anderton". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
27. "Bristol Rovers' Anderton to have chemotherapy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
28. "Anderton 'taken aback' by support in cancer battle". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
29. "Local Club Helps Nick". Bristol Rovers. 11 January 2023. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
30. "Bristol Razors". Bristol Rovers. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
31. "Bristol Rovers shave heads in support of Anderton". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
32. "Anderton retires as he continues cancer treatment". Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023– via www.bbc.com.
33. Piercy, James (21 April 2023). "Nick Anderton announces retirement from football amid cancer battle". BristolLive. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
34. Piercy, James (28 June 2023). "Nick Anderton's inspirational message as Bristol Rovers hero enters final week of chemotherapy". Bristol Post. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
35. "Nick Anderton: Former Bristol Rovers defender says he is free of bone cancer". BBC Sport. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
36. "New Backroom Stadd Announced". www.afcfylde.co.uk. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
37. "Anderton new Fylde assistant after cancer all-clear" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
38. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
39. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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41. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
42. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
43. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
44. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
45. "Games played by Nick Anderton in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
46. "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.