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Anderson, who played 55 times in all competitions for Newcastle United, played in the FA Cup defeat against Arsenal in January 2021 before joining Bristol Rovers on loan a year later.
It was here that he completed an important part of his studies – as well as discovering what would still be the most remarkable match of his career.
Former Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan was a player-coach at Bristol Rovers, and the confident “but never cocky” Anderson vividly recalled the impact he made in the West Country.
He told BBC Sport: “He just walked into the building and showed his ability straight away. He didn’t seem fazed. You could see straight away that this kid was different.
“As the coach, there were some situations in training where I tried to put him under a little bit of pressure. Some kids get a little bit reserved and back off. Elliott was on the front foot. He took the bull by the horns.”
In the year
“We were losing at half-time and I basically said, ‘We’ve got to book this kid because he’s a game-changer.’
Anderson’s attitude and determination was evident during his time at Bristol Rovers – culminating in an impressive season.
“He had confidence in him to show everyone how good he was,” Whelan said. “He wasn’t arrogant. He obviously had a good upbringing from his family and he had that Geordie in him.
He played on the left wing, but if the ball did not come to him, he would go and look for it, he did not care who marked him. He can make things happen by taking the ball under pressure.
“Elliott loved training. He wanted to learn, to do more. He had the character to stay behind and improve. We could tell right away he was going to be a top player.”
And Anderson left Bristol Rovers on the final day of the season where they achieved promotion to League One on one of the greatest days in their history.
Pirates started the day by bettering third-placed Northampton, or five goals clear of their rivals, with a 7-0 win, with Anderson netting the final goal five minutes from time to help Rovers move into the top three for the first time all season.
Anderson was given a triumphant farewell by Bristol Rovers fans.
