Bristol Rovers defender Nick Anderton has sadly been forced to retire at the age of just 26 as he continues to battle bone cancer.
Anderton was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in July 2022 and is completing a course of chemotherapy. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer, a rare form that develops in the supporting tissue in the body.
The full-back had a biopsy after his diagnosis which revealed the cancerous cells were aggressive and required him to have chemotherapy. Rovers have rallied around the 26-year-old, with manager Joey Barton and the squad undertaking a number of fundraising efforts.
In January, 40 players, coaches and staff shaved their heads at a local Bristol barbers, raising £46,000 in the process. Barton also recently ran the Manchester Marathon in support of Anderton.
Sadly though, the nature of the operations Anderton has had to undergo to battle the cancer has meant he has now been forced to retire. The 26-year-old revealed the news with a statement on social media.
"I've had six months to prepare some words for this moment and I still don't know what to say. It's been extremely difficult to come to terms with but I've decided today is the day to announce that at the age of 26 I have to retire from professional football," the statement read.
"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 12 cm of my femur replaced.
"There was optimism that I could return to playing after the initial planner 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."
Anderton thanked his past and present team-mates, coaches and clubs for their support during his career. That took in spells at Preston and Blackpool before his career has now come to end with Rovers.
"Looking back at the last 10 years, I have nothing but fond memories. To every club I've represented, thank you for the opportunity. To ever manager and coach I've world under, thank you for the time you invested in me," Anderton added.
"To every player I've shared a dressing room with and every player I've competeed against on the pitch, thank you. It's been an absolute pleasure. I want to say a massive thank you to every cingle person who has sent messages, donated and said a prayer.
"Your kind words and support for me and 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."
