Rochdale to say final goodbye to club legend Joe Thompson

Friday, 9 May 2025 15:06

By David Murphy

The funeral of former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson will take place on Monday, May 12, at 11am at St Mark’s Church, Worsley (M28 2WH).

In a social media post by the club this afternoon, the club and family have announced that the service is open to the public, with anyone touched by Joe’s story invited to attend and pay their respects.

First team players and club directors from Rochdale AFC will be there to honour a man whose impact went far beyond the pitch. Joe passed away surrounded by loved ones, after a third battle with cancer. He was 36.

Thompson had been diagnosed with stage four lymphoma in April 2024, five years after retiring from football. Despite his illness, he continued to raise awareness and funds for cancer treatment right up until the end, most notably completing a 21 mile charity walk from Old Trafford to Rochdale’s Crown Oil Arena just months ago.

Joe’s family has asked attendees to wear colourful clothing in celebration of his life. Rather than bringing flowers, mourners are encouraged to donate to one of his GoFundMe pages. The wake will be private, for close friends and family only.

There is no parking at the church, so visitors are advised to use public transport.

Born in Bath in 1988, Thompson came through Manchester United’s academy before making his name at Rochdale, where he played 203 times across three spells. He also turned out for Tranmere Rovers, Carlisle United, Southport and Bury during a 13 year career.

First diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013, he twice overcame the disease before it returned for a third time last year. One of the most iconic moments of his career came in 2018, when he scored the goal that kept Rochdale in League One just months after completing treatment.

Thompson retired from football in 2019, citing the toll the illness had taken on his body. He went on to become a motivational speaker, broadcaster and mentor for young players, winning the Sir Tom Finney Award that same year in recognition of his inspirational journey.

He is survived by his wife Chantelle and daughters Thailula-Lily and Athena Rae.

Rochdale AFC said in a statement:

“Joe was more than just a footballer. He was a fighter, a role model, and a cherished part of the Rochdale family.”

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