NEWCASTLE midfielder Elliot Anderson is following in his grandfather’s footsteps as a Toon star.
The 21-year-old has racked up 41 appearances for The Magpies since making his debut as a teenager back in 2021.
But he still has some way to go if he wants to leave a legacy rivalling his grandad, Geoff Allen.
Allen, 77, the father of Anderson’s mother, Helen, became one of Newcastle’s youngest ever players when he made his debut aged 17 against Norwich in April 1964.
The left winger went on to earn 26 caps for the North East outfit before injury cruelly cut his career short in 1970 at just 23.
Yet despite his best years as a professional footballer being taken from him, the former England youth international was still a part of an iconic period at St James’ Park.
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It came when Newcastle lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 – their last major trophy.
Allen, who had won the second division with the club four years earlier, started in their opening match of the Fairs Cup – which was also the Toon’s first ever competitive European game.
And they sealed a legendary 4-0 victory over Feyenoord at St James’ Park – which ultimately led to a 4-2 aggregate win.
They went on to lift the trophy after seeing off Sporting Lisbon, Real Zaragoza, Vitoria de Setubal, Rangers and Ujpest.
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Newcastle have not won a major trophy in the 55 years that have followed.
Anderson came close to repeating his grandad’s feat in 2023 when Eddie Howe’s men lost 2-0 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
The young Newcastle star featured in two of their Champions League games earlier this season – most notably the 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain – maintaining the family legacy of playing for the Toon in some of their biggest European games.
He has been sidelined since October with a back injury – one of a host of Newcastle absentees.
But he revealed back in 2020 – after signing a new contract on his 18th birthday – that he is determined to make it on Tyneside.
He said: “You just want to sort of try and carry it on [the legacy of his grandad Allen].
“He got injured quite early which was a shame, but it gives you that bit more motivation to do it.
“Every kid’s dream is to play for Newcastle – and it’s mine too, so hopefully I can be successful with it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
