Cancer hero Joe hangs up his boots
FOOTBALLER Joe Thompson, who has twice beaten cancer to play for his boyhood hometown club Rochdale, has announced his retirement from the game.
Confirming his decision, he said he had ‘battled through some of life’s hardest challenges, and managed to overcome them’.
Rochdale fans will always be remember him for his fairytale strike against Charlton Athletic at the Crown Oil Arena last May, which kept Rochdale in League One and sent rivals Oldham Athletic down to League Two – a goal he said ‘meant the world to me’.
The club released a statement from Thompson confirming his retirement ‘with a heavy heart’.
In it the 29-year-old forward said retirement was ‘one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make’, but confirmed talks had been ongoing with specialists and consultants.
Rochdale’s Number 15 said he had ‘pushed his body to the absolute limit’ and now wants to mentor young professionals in the game.
Thompson said: “My mind has grown stronger but, with the intense treatment my body has had to endure over the last six years, it is no longer able to perform to the demands of the professional game.
“I owe it to my body and also to my family who have all seen me go through hell on more than one occasion. I would like to thank them dearly; particularly my wife Chantelle, my mum Michelle, brother Reuben and my amazing daughter Lula.
“You have all been my light in my darkest days.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my teammates, my manager Keith Hill and all the staff at Rochdale. You are truly an unbelievable group of people.
“Thank you for all the support and faith you have put in me over the years. It has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside you all and create memories I shall cherish forever.”
He said he would be working in the fields of motivational speaking, mentoring and the media.
“I am a firm believer that when one door closes another door opens,” Thompson added. “I’m looking forward to all the new opportunities that will come my way.
“I believe I have a duty to mentor younger professionals in the game. I also feel my story has the power to help others in all walks of life to overcome their own adversities and empower them to fulfil their potential.
“Last, but not least, I would like to thank the footballing world, especially the Rochdale fans.
“That goal at the end of last season meant the world to me, to be able to share that with you all made me immensely proud.
“I’ve received thousands of messages from football fans around the world and it’s been truly humbling. I cannot thank you enough.
“Without my family and football, I honestly can say I don’t know whether l’d be here. Don’t live life to survive, live to thrive.”
After moving to live in Rochdale, the former pupil of St Cuthbert’s RC High School spent time as a teenager at Manchester United’s academy alongside the likes of now established Premier League stars Tom Cleverley, Danny Simpson, Danny Drinkwater and Tom Heaton.
He was released just days before his 16th birthday and moved to Rochdale in 2006, making his debut in the May, before signing professional terms.
In 2012 he signed for Tranmere Rovers and it was while playing for the club that he was given the news he was suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma and could have been suffering with it for up to three years.
The football world rallied round him during his chemotherapy and he returned to the pitch playing for Bury, Carlisle and then Rochdale again.
But in March 2017, he was given the news that would turn his life upside once again a tumour was found on his chest.
During his second bout of treatment he had a stem cell transplant and, after months of treatment, he returned to football in December 2017 after being told he was in complete remission.
In total, he made 182 appearances for Rochdale, scoring 19 goals.