Harry Anderson (English footballer)

Harry John Anderson (born 9 January 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Stevenage. A versatile player, Anderson has been deployed as a right-back, right wing-back, right midfielder or right winger. He will join side Colchester United on 1 July 2024.

A Crawley Town youth product, Anderson joined Peterborough United's youth team in 2014 and made his first team debut a year later. He had loan spells at Braintree Town, St Albans City and Lincoln City prior to making a permanent move in July 2017.

Youth career
Anderson began his professional career in the youth ranks of Crawley Town, joining in the summer of 2013. The midfielder spent a single season with the Red Devils before the youth team was disbanded and subsequently moved to Peterborough United in July 2014, joining the Under-18s.

Peterborough United
On 28 February 2015, Anderson made his first team as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Bradford City. He went on to make 10 appearances during the 2014–15 campaign, before signing a new contract to extend his stay with the club. Anderson was named Peterborough United Young Player of the Year.

He made a further five league and two cup appearances during the 2015–16 season, and recorded two assists against former club Crawley Town in a 2–0 victory in August. His final appearance of the season came on 17 October, with Anderson coming off the bench in a 1–1 draw with Port Vale.

Braintree Town (loan)
On 15 January 2016, Anderson joined National League side Braintree Town on loan for the remainder of the season.

On 23 January, he made his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Forest Green Rovers with an 18-minute appearance. Anderson made his second and final appearance for the club on 26 January in a 1–0 victory at Wrexham. He was named on the bench for the following four games, before his loan spell was terminated by the club.

St Albans City (loan)
On 19 February 2016, Anderson joined National League South side St Albans City alongside Peterborough United teammate Jonathan Edwards. He made his debut the following day in a 1–0 defeat to Bath City.

On 1 March, Anderson scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Hemel Hempstead Town in the Herts Charity Cup semi-final. He added his second goal on 12 March, netting in a 3–1 victory at Hayes & Yeading United. Scoring his two goals during six matches in March, Anderson was named as the club's Player of the Month.

On 26 April, Anderson started in the Herts Charity Cup final defeat to Bishop's Stortford before being substituted at half-time. He returned to Peterborough at the end of the season having made 15 appearances.

Lincoln City
On 16 August 2016, Anderson joined National League club Lincoln City on a youth loan until 1 January. The move saw him reunited with manager Danny Cowley, who previously signed Anderson on loan at Braintree Town. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge the same day with a 25-minute appearance from the bench. His first start for the club saw him record two assists in a 4–0 victory over Southport, before scoring his first goal in the subsequent 2–1 win at Macclesfield Town.

On 4 October, Anderson scored his second goal for the club in a 2–1 victory at Wrexham. He scored again four days later in a 1–1 draw at Bromley, before scoring his final goal for the club in a 5–2 win at Chester on 29 October. Not included in the squad to face York City on 22 November, Anderson was an unused substitute for the next two games before a final substitute appearance in a 2–1 victory over Tranmere Rovers on 17 December.

On 22 December, Anderson was recalled by Peterborough, amid interest from Football League clubs.

On 23 March, Anderson returned to Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the season. The following day he marked his return with a substitute appearance in a 3–1 win over Forest Green Rovers.

On 20 July 2017, Anderson joined recently promoted League Two club Lincoln City for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. In July 2019 he signed a new contract. On the 4 June 2021, it was announced that he would be leaving at the expiration of his contract.

Bristol Rovers
On 13 July 2021, Anderson joined recently relegated League Two side Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal. On 2 October 2021, Anderson opened his account for the club when he gave his side the lead in an eventual 3–1 home defeat to Swindon Town. The season ended with a third career promotion for Anderson, a 7–0 thrashing of Scunthorpe United on the final day of the season seeing Rovers move into the final automatic promotion place on goals scored.

Having had a frustrating 2022–23 season due to injuries, Anderson underwent groin surgery in March 2023. With the winger due to be out on contract in the summer, he was linked with a number of League One and League Two clubs. In April 2023, having received a contract offer, it was revealed that club and player had reached an impasse. Following the final match of the season, manager Joey Barton admitted that they would not be offering the player a new contract on account of his injury record, instead offering him back to prove his fitness over pre-season. He departed the club at the end of the season.

Stevenage
On 16 June 2023, Anderson signed with League One side Stevenage. Having made just three appearances during the first half of the season, he joined Colchester United on loan until the end of the season in January 2024.

On 8 May 2024, Stevenage announced the player would be released in the summer once his contract expired.

Colchester United
On 13 June 2024, Anderson was announced to have agreed to return to League Two club Colchester United on a permanent two-year contract.

Honours
Lincoln City
 * EFL League Two: 2018–19
 * EFL Trophy: 2017–18
 * National League: 2016–17

Bristol Rovers
 * EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2021–22