Dion Dublin was among the many figures related to Manchester United in attendance for former academy participant Joe Thompson’s funeral, as his household and family members gathered to pay their respects.
Thompson, who got here by Man United’s academy revealed he had been identified with most cancers for the third time final 12 months. He was discovered to have stage 4 lymphona – a kind of blood most cancers.
He had beforehand been identified with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013 and recovered earlier than the most cancers returned 4 years later. He went on to get well a second time earlier than calling time on his profession in 2019.
His funeral in Worsley, Better Manchester, was attended by plenty of former team-mates, pals and figures from the membership.
Dublin was joined by former Purple Devils defender and Premier League winner with Leicester Metropolis Danny Simpson, in addition to former Rochdale participant Simon Ramsden and Danny Webber, who got here by the ranks at Previous Trafford.
Thompson’s household in truth invited anybody who needed to pay their respects to attend the service in Worsley, with tons of arriving on the day, and requested for donations to be made to charities supported by the previous participant.
Former footballer Joe Thompson died from most cancers on the age of 36 earlier this 12 months
Dion Dublin was among the many former Man United figures in attendance at Thompson’s funeral
The service for Thompson came about at St Mark’s Church in Worsley, Better Manchester
Thompson’s taking part in profession included spells at Rochdale, Tranmere, Southport, Bury and Carlisle United, earlier than he retired in 2019.
Followers from golf equipment that he performed for have been amongst these in attendance on Monday, with Rochdale’s co-chairman Simon Gauge additionally on the service.
‘He had an actual zest for all times. Everybody at Rochdale is extremely unhappy – he was an exquisite man,’ mentioned Gauge.
Whereas the service came about inside St Mark’s Church, together with touching tributes from his brother, Reuben, and companion, Chantelle, highlights from his profession have been performed on screens outdoors. Movies of Thompson and his household have been additionally proven.
The BBC reviews that Thompson’s widow Chantelle informed the service that the previous participant was her ‘soulmate… my rock… and my every little thing,’ including: ‘I do not know who I’m with out him’.
Thompson turned an everyday pundit on MUTV following his retirement and held an ambassadorial position, together with working as a motivational speaker and life coach.
‘A person who epitomised our membership’s values,’ Man United mentioned in a tribute following the announcement of his tragic passing in April. ‘We’re saddened to share that Joe Thompson has handed away.
‘A heat character who had a deep reference to our membership from a younger age, our ideas are with Joe’s household and pals at this troublesome time.’
His companion Chantelle paid tribute to her ‘soulmate’ and admitted ‘I do not know who I’m with out him’
Danny Simpson got here by the ranks at Previous Trafford earlier than successful the title with Leicester
Thompson’s household invited anybody who needed to pay their respects on the service in Worsley
Fellow former academy participant Danny Webber was additionally amongst these in attendance on Monday
Man United added that Thompson spearheaded the launch of the membership’s academy alumni programme — named ‘United As soon as, United Perpetually’ — which they said was an industry-leading formalisation of aftercare for former Academy gamers.
Thompson additionally raised over £20,000 for additional therapy and testing to assist future generations by finishing a charity fundraiser titled ‘Stroll with me for JT.’
He accomplished the 21-mile stroll with followers, pals and team-mates from Previous Trafford to Rochdale, by way of a number of stadiums in Better Manchester.
‘In the event you have been to say to me, perhaps three or 4 months in the past, that I might be doing a 21-mile stroll, I might have snapped your hand off as a result of I used to be struggling to breathe,’ he informed the BBC previous to the problem.
‘The imaginative and prescient for me is to create a wellness centre that helps folks with higher testing, additionally discovering the basis causes [of cancer] and educating folks.’
Having come by Man United’s academy Thompson spent nearly all of taking part in profession at Rochdale, making 203 appearances throughout three totally different spells, and was a part of the facet which was promoted to League One in 2010.
Thompson achieved hero standing on the membership on the ultimate day of the 2017-18 season, scoring the one aim in a 1-0 victory which ensured the membership averted relegation to League Two.
Rochdale wrote on social media that the membership was ‘devastated to be taught of the passing of Dale legend, Joe Thompson’, including that he had handed away peacefully at residence together with his household by his facet.
