Bristol Rovers star announces emotional retirement from football after complications in cancer battle

Bristol Rovers defender Nick Anderton has announced his early retirement from football at the age of 26 after complications in his cancer battle.

It was announced that the full-back had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in July 2022 but the player had hoped to make a return to football.

On Friday, Anderton confirmed that his recovery process had included some unforeseen complications meaning large parts of his femur and a full joint had to be replaced.

As a result, the Gashead star has taken the difficult decision to step back from the sport and shared an emotional tribute online.

He said: "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.

"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 plant 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."

Rovers players, staff and fans have done much to support and encourage Anderton through the process since the diagnosis announcement last year.

In the opening game of the current campaign, players from Rovers and Forest Green wore shirts in the warm-up as a sign of solidarity with Anderton. There was also applause in the 16th minute, which was the defender's shirt number, and the squad shaved their heads to raise money for their colleague.

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton also promised to run a marathon to fundraise for Anderton, which he did last weekend by completing the Manchester Marathon in four hours and 23 seconds.

The total amount raised for Nick Anderton on the GoFundMe page now sits at over £46,000.

In his retirement announcement, Anderton said: "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 every manager and coach I've worked under, thank you for your time invested in me. To every player I've shared a dressing room with and every player I've completed 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 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 think you enough.

"It's given me even more motivation to continue fighting and to completely complete every single millilitre of chemotherapy that I need."