UPDATE: |’He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch’: Football world pays tribute to Rochdale legend Joe Thompson News

Joe Thompson has died aged 36 after being diagnosed with cancer for a third time

Tributes from the footballing world are being paid to Joe Thompson – a Rochdale legend who has died after twice beating cancer and courageously battling the disease for a third time.

His family said they were ‘forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence, and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against all the odds’.

Known with huge affection as Joey T, the father-of-two successfully fought multiple diagnoses to return to the pitch and the sport he adored. But in April last year, he announced a type of blood cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. He sadly passed away surrounded by his family at his home on Thursday.

Joe – an inspirational symbol of bravery and determination in the face of years of adversity – was just 36. He will remain a fans’ favourite at Rochdale forever for his work both on and off the grass – as well as his fighting spirit, his commitment and his many goals.

The former Manchester United academy player scored a fairytale winner against Charlton Athletic in May 2018, which kept Dale in League One and sent rivals Oldham Athletic down to League Two – a goal he described as ‘paradise’ and said ‘meant the world’ to him.

It followed his return to the club after his second diagnosis and a stem cell transplant. He said at the time the goal – scored after he was brought on as a substitute by manager Keith Hill with just minutes remaining – was his ‘present’ to the fans for ‘sticking by’ him.

Flowers in Joe’s memory are being left by supporters against a memorial wall at the club’s Crown Oil Arena stadium.

Players, meanwhile, wore black armbands as Dale beat Altrincham 2-1 away in the National League on Good Friday. Dale fans chanted his name throughout the game.

A minute’s applause rang out ahead of kick-off – and again on 15 minutes as play was stopped – with other clubs in the north west also following suit. A bouquet of flowers was laid out on the pitch in his memory.

Plans to honour Joe at Monday night’s league game with AFC Fylde at the Crown Oil Arena, meanwhile, are also now being finalised.

As tributes from clubs across the country flooded in – led by Rochdale and Manchester United – Joe’s wife, Chantelle Thompson, praised him as ‘brave and courageous’. Writing on social media, she said their daughters – Thailula and Athena Rae – would now ‘carry his light and legacy on’.

Chantelle wrote: “He was at home where he wanted to be in a beautiful peaceful setting surrounding by his family when he transitioned. Joe has made such an impact on so many people and we are all forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against all the odds.

“He was the most incredible husband, son, brother, friend and father to our beautiful daughters who will now carry his light and legacy on and I will continue to keep filling them up with Joe’s love every single day.

“It’s been a long battle, and one that he fought with all his might and he did things his way. He choose his path and walked every step with courage and pride growing closer and closer to God each day whilst still being there for so many others. He held on to his plans for the future to continue that legacy, but it’s now time for him to rest up and watch over us from Heaven.

“I know he will be deeply missed by everyone and the world will not be the same without his contagious energy.”

Born in Bath, Joe moved to Rochdale as a youngster and attended St Vincent’s primary school then St Cuthbert’s RC High School. He joined Manchester United’s Academy at the age of nine, where he stayed until he was 16 playing alongside future graduates including Tom Cleverley, Danny Drinkwater and James Chester.

In a tribute, United said Joe would often pay tribute to the impact the club had on his life, and ‘spent his later years dedicated to helping others experience the same values’.

Aged 16, he joined Rochdale in the summer of 2005 on a YTS deal, making his first team against Carlisle United aged 17 in 2006.

Joe spent six years in his first spell at Rochdale, before a transfer in 2012 to Tranmere Rovers. It was there – aged 23 – that he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy, he completed remission in June, 2014 – and immediately announced he would play again.

He did just that at Bury, Wrexham then Carlisle United, before returning to Rochdale in 2016. But just months into his second spell, cancer returned. He stopped playing while he underwent more treatment – including a life-saving stem cell transplant – and was told he was in complete remission again after fighting back, returning to football and Rochdale in the December of 2017.

In a statement issued after his death was confirmed, Rochdale said: “He featured in our FA Cup fifth round replay against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, before entering himself into Rochdale folklore on the final day of the 2017/18 season.

“With Dale needing a win to survive relegation to League Two, Joe appeared as a 67th minute substitute and just two minutes later, he scored the crucial goal that secured a 1-0 victory and our League One status. He made one more appearance for the club before announcing his retirement from football in 2019.”

In total, Joey T made more than 200 appearances for his local team. On retiring, Joe received the prestigious Sir Tom Finney Award for his career and contribution to the English Football League.

He went on to pursue a career in motivational speaking and was a pundit for United’s MUTV channel and BBC radio, as well as spearheading the launch of United’s Academy Alumni programme – ‘United Once, United Forever’ – which the club said was an industry-leading formalisation of aftercare for former academy players.

In a statement, United said Joe spoke courageously ‘about the reality of his situation, even though his mere presence demonstrated his commitment to persevering through difficulty’.

“Everyone who knew Joe thought he was a great man, whose personality lit up every room he entered despite the pain he had endured in his life,” the club said. “We’ll always remember him and send our deepest condolences to his wife, Chantelle, and two daughters.”

After Joe’s third diagnosis, hundreds of ex-teammates, friends and family joined him in a charity walk from Old Trafford to Rochdale, raising more than £20,000 for further treatment and pioneering testing to help future generations. Joe also raised money for the Christie hospital in Manchester during his playing career.

Rochdale FC said all at the club were ‘devastated’ on Joe’s passing, describing him as a legend of a club.

The club’s statement issued on Good Friday read: “We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality. He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story.

“Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae. Our thoughts are with Joe’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time. Joe’s legacy will live on forever.”