Inspirational footballers returned to their former club after beating cancer to help others. Rochdale legend Joe Thompson was joined by former Dale youth player Bader Al-Akkad at Spotland for the Goals for A Cure match.
The Joe Thompson XL vs All Stars X1 powerhouse showdown on Bank Holiday Monday was a celebration of Rochdale's football heritage. Joe was back on the pitch as captain, led by former Rochdale manager Keith Hill. He was joined by Bader, who like Joe has just beat Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, and is aiming to give back to fellow cancer patients.
Among the footballing stars taking part in the match at the the Crown Oil Arena, which ended with a 2-1 victory to the All Stars X1, were former Manchester City player Joleon Lescott, Frank Sinclair, Aaron Burns, Danny Webber, Fraizer Campbell, Tom Thorpe, Charlie Morley, Dale Stephens, Jim McNulty, Nedum Onuoha and Adam Thompson.
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The game, attended by more than 800 people, raised funds for The Christie cancer centre and Souriyat Across Borders, founded in 2012 by five Syrian women as an emergency response to the humanitarian crisis to meet the needs of Syrian refugees. Both men were treated at The Christie.
Joe, 34, was diagnosed in 2013 when he was just 23 and the cancer returned three years later. He retired from playing football in 2019 and now a TV and radio presenter and inspirational speaker. Stockport County player Bader, 19, who beat the illness after six months of treatment, was diagnosed in November 2021.
Last April he wrote: "It’s with a heavy heart but a relieved one I write this message. Over the last 6 months I’ve been battling with a condition named Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which is a form of cancer.
"Over this difficult phase of my life I have been spoilt with everyone’s kindness and generosity throughout the whole process. Over my treatment period I have opted to stay private and keep the news only with my friends and family.
"I am thankful to them for being my backbone through all this and keeping me going throughout it. I’ll be eternally grateful from the bottom of my heart thank you. Next I want to thank the wonderful staff and hospital at the Christie’s.
"From every nurse to every doctor your care has been unbelievable you have made this so much easier and took the correct decisions at every moment me and my family will be in your debt forever. And lastly I want to thank everyone at this amazing football club @stockportcountyofficial for all their due care throughout the whole thing."
He added: "From my teammates whose support has been never ending. To my coaches who have been there for me all the time without question. To the physios who without them noticing it and catching it early I may be not here today to write this message. To the clubs hierarchy who’ve helped me in my charity projects from the bottom of my heart thank you."
Joe, the proud father of two daughters Thailula Lily, 10, and Athena Rae, who he welcomed with his wife Chantelle in September, made his debut for Rochdale in May 2006. His eldest Thailula helped by raising £200 by making cupcakes.
In total Joe made 182 appearances for Rochdale, scoring 19 goals. Joe, a former Manchester United youth player, also turned out for Tranmere Rovers and Bury. He beat nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma in 2014 after six months of chemotherapy. But in March 2017 he confirmed that the cancer had returned after a tumour was found on his chest.
He stopped playing while he underwent more treatment - including a stem cell transplant - and was told he was in complete remission again after fighting back with the support of his wife, daughter, then Rochdale manager Keith Hill and his team-mates. He returned to football, and Rochdale, in December 2017.
At Spotland, Joe will always be remembered for his fairytale strike against Charlton Athletic in May 2018, which kept Rochdale in League One and sent rivals Oldham Athletic down to League Two - a goal he said 'meant the world to me.'
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