The football world is mourning the loss of Joe Thompson, the former Rochdale player who passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, aged just 36. Thompson had become an inspiration to many after facing cancer not once, but three times, with incredible strength and courage.
He was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013 while playing for Tranmere. He beat it, only for the disease to return in 2017 during his second spell at Rochdale. Again, he fought through treatment and went on to recover. In March last year, Joe shared the heartbreaking news that the cancer had come back as stage four and had spread to his lungs.
