Stars come out as Joe gets day to cherish
JOE Thompson said he wanted his testimonial at the Crown Oil Arena to be a memorable occasion and the day proved just that.
A corker of a strike from legendary skipper Gary Jones, the sight of Dale’s most successful manager Keith Hill in the dugout, once again managing a Rochdale side, and the emotional standing ovation for Thompson himself provided the highlights on a day to remember for the 30-year-old, his family and the healthy crowd who were treated to an defender Joleon Lescott, doing. They are unsung sport we had with of us are totally naive and TOWIE star Mark Wright heroes,” said Thompson. England winning the ignorant about when we and many a home fan’s “As footballers, we have World Cup. That’s the kind are young. I know I was –I favourite panto villain, a platform that I feel of thing that capitavates used to associate the Kevin Ellison – by the odd should be used more to the child and for me, it’s Christie with old people goal in seven. highlight the work they all about highlighting the and death! But there are
And with a portion of are doing on a day to day fact that when you are a so many success stories the proceeds going to The basis. sportsman or a and it is just a case of Christie hospital – who “I want to sit down with personality, you have a highlighting that. played a vital role in The Christie and talk to responsibility to show the “With celebrities and helping Thompson fight them about how football next generation sportsmen they are off life-threatening cancer and footballers could help something about giving relatable and, I suppose, twice – Thompson, who more. Moving forward, I’d back, being appreciative cool to the kids. That’s retired earlier this year, is like to be an ambassador and being grateful. where they are more hoping this was the first of and use the contacts I “We can also be a willing to listen to many such events. have to do more and give bridge between the someone from that world
“It was a chance to say back more. sporting world –which than someone coming entertaining spectacle. thanks and farewell but “A lot of young people young people are along and saying ‘I work
A team of Dale Legends for me it’s about raising look up to footballers as interested in – and the on behalf of such and beat an All Stars XI – awareness of all the work role models – just look at world of the Christie, such...’ and it just doesn’t including ex-City that The Christie are the recent weekend of which, to be honest, many resonate.
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