Joe Thompson

Who is Joe Thompson?

• Former professional footballer for Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers, Carlisle United and Bury
• Winner of 2019 Tom Finney Award
• Established Inspirational speaker
• Performance Mindset Mentor
• Presenter for Manchester United TV & BBC co-commentator
• Squad Goals

Joe is a former professional footballer, who was signed at the age of nine by Manchester United. After spending six years there he was released aged 16. He soon bounced back to forge a career in the Football League, playing for top flight clubs Tranmere Rovers, Rochdale and Bury.

Devastatingly at 23 Joe was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, which he received immediate treatment for and later announced he had gone into remission. Joe returned to football playing for Rochdale but the cancer returned for a second time 3 years later. Shortly after, Joe retired from the game he loved stating: “With the intense treatment my body has had to endure over the last six years, it is no longer able to perform to the demands of the professional game.”

Joe has written a book called Darkness and Light: My Story, detailing his incredible journey and the battles he has had to face, whilst enduring a professional career.

Since retiring in February 2019, Joe has developed as a confident and passionate public speaker; he is currently touring Championship clubs around the country as part of the EFL Life Skills programme where he talks to many youth teams, such as Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest. He also works as a performance mindset mentor, offering ‘Pinnacle Performance Programmes’ to help elevate the minds of athletes, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, helping to transform people’s mentalities.

Joe regularly presents for Manchester United TV, analysing the latest matches and discussing the futures of Manchester United’s academy players. He co-commentates for BBC Radio Manchester, as well as presents Squad Goals every Saturday. He recieved the first ever Manchester United Academy Alumni Award that recognises his commitment to the club. He has also had media appearances for ESPN, where he reported on the FA Cup, and talkSport, where he has discussed his personal experiences of having a terminal illness.

Outside of football, Joe works as the co-founder of Young Hearts Collection, which is a sustainable children’s clothing brand that gives all profits made, to food banks, to support and provide for local communities.

Last year, he featured on the judging panel for the This is Manchester Awards 2022 and handed out some of the awards to the winners.