Carlisle united

Crown Oil Arena: Former Rochdale midfielder, and Manchester United academy product, Joe Thompson passed away at the age of 36 after he was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in April 2024. Thompson was found to have stage four lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - which had spread to his lungs after twice recovering from the disease during his playing career.

Thompson was found to have stage four lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - which had spread to his lungs after twice recovering from the disease during his playing career.

At the age of nine, he joined Manchester United’s Academy where he stayed until 16. It was then, in the summer of 2005, he joined Rochdale to make his first team debut in a match against Carlisle United in May 2006. Joe would go on to be a regular and played an integral part in promotion to League One in 2010.