Everyone at Manchester United is deeply saddened by the passing of our much-loved friend and Academy alumnus, Joe Thompson, at the age of 36. Joe’s wife, Chantelle, and two daughters are firmly in our thoughts at this immensely difficult time.
Born in Bath in 1989, Joe later moved to Rochdale, where his athletic talent helped him find distraction and passion in a turbulent childhood and eventually earn a contract at United’s Academy. Joining in 1998, Thompson honed his craft alongside future graduates like James Chester, Danny Drinkwater, and Tom Cleverley.
He remembered his time at United’s Academy as having provided a necessary structure and discipline to his life. It also allowed him to travel the world, make friends and grow in confidence. He would pay tribute to its impact throughout his life and spent his later years dedicated to helping others experience the same value.
At 16, Thompson was let go by United and joined local side Rochdale, where he thrived, making a first-team debut at 17 in May 2006. He received the League Two Apprentice award for his performances in the following season and in total spent six years in his first spell at Rochdale before a summer 2012 transfer to Tranmere Rovers.
It was during his time on Merseyside that Thompson received his diagnosis of a rare form of cancer called nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma. He was only 23 at the time, and soon underwent debilitating chemotherapy which successfully treated the disease. He completed remission in June 2014 and announced his intention to return to playing full-time. Those who knew Joe and his strength of character had little doubt that he’d fulfill that promise, and he did, first at Bury and then Carlisle United before a return to Rochdale.
Initially signing on a six-month deal, Thompson called Rochdale his “home” and gradually re-established himself, to the point where he “felt like the player I used to be”.
However, Thompson received a second cancer diagnosis three years after his initial one, requiring life-threatening stem cell therapy.
Joe got through this painful time and, remarkably, returned to professional football again to defy all expectations. His return for Rochdale was as a substitute against Walsall in December 2017. Over the remainder of that season, he featured in a famous 2-2 FA Cup draw with Tottenham Hotspur before playing a crucial role in Dale’s fight to avoid relegation.
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In the season’s final game, Joe scored the winning goal against Charlton Athletic that kept Rochdale in League One. It was named the ‘Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year’ and Joe called it “paradise”.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2018, he recalled how “everything went silent, like white noise, and time stood still for me”. For everyone else on the ground and who’d followed Joe’s story across the world, the magnitude of his achievement was clear.
“It lasted 10 to 15 seconds, and in that time I was just flying,” Joe said.
“It was the beauty of football, the power it can have and why everyone loves it for those magical moments.”
Joe retired in 2019 and received the Sir Tom Finney Award, given to those who have had an outstanding career and contributed an exceptional amount to the EFL. He then pursued a career in motivational speaking. Those who heard Joe’s story felt inspired by his character and his dedication to a positive mentality.
“The fire may sometimes not be roaring,” Joe would tell people. “But the flame will always eternally flicker. Adversity comes in different ways, and affects people differently. But love and unity always wins.”
The following year, Joe was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. On the day he announced the news to the world, he was at Old Trafford for the official launch of the Alumni program. He spoke courageously about the reality of his situation, even though his mere presence demonstrated his commitment to persevering through difficulty, as well as to the club and the people around him.
Staff from MUTV, where Joe was a regular pundit after his retirement, joined him several months later as he completed an inspirational charity fundraiser: “Walk with me for JT.”
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Joined by hundreds of fans, friends, and ex-teammates, Joe walked from Old Trafford, where his career began, to Rochdale, where it ended, via some other grounds in Greater Manchester, such as Salford City and Oldham Athletic. He raised more than £20,000 for further treatment and pioneering testing that could help future generations.
Greeted at the finish line with chants of ‘There’s Only One Joe Thompson’, it was a truly special day, and the number of those in attendance was a mark of Joe as a man.
When discussing his third diagnosis with MUTV’s Zarah Connolly, Joe said, “I never wanted to be known as a great or a good footballer. That was always a part of my life. But if you ask me, do I want to be known as a great man? That’s a different story.
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. We’ll always remember him and send our deepest condolences to his wife, Chantelle, and two daughters.