Joe Thompson funeral: Dion Dublin and ex-Man United youth stars pay respects to former football who died aged 36 after cancer battle

Dion Dublin was among the figures associated with Manchester United successful attendance for erstwhile academy subordinate Joe Thompson's funeral, arsenic his household and loved ones gathered to wage their respects. 

Thompson, who came done Man United's academy revealed helium had been diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd clip past year. He was recovered to person signifier 4 lymphona - a benignant of humor cancer.

He had antecedently been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma successful 2013 and recovered earlier the crab returned 4 years later. He went connected to retrieve a 2nd clip earlier calling clip connected his vocation successful 2019.

His ceremonial successful Worsley, Greater Manchester, was attended by a fig of erstwhile team-mates, friends and figures from the club. 

Dublin was joined by erstwhile Red Devils defender and Premier League victor with Leicester City Danny Simpson, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile Rochdale subordinate Simon Ramsden and Danny Webber, who came done the ranks astatine Old Trafford. 

Thompson's household successful information invited anyone who wanted to wage their respects to be the work successful Worsley, with hundreds arriving connected the day, and asked for donations to beryllium made to charities supported by the erstwhile player.

Thompson's playing vocation included spells astatine Rochdale, Tranmere, Southport, Bury and Carlisle United, earlier helium retired successful 2019.

Fans from clubs that helium played for were among those successful attendance connected Monday, with Rochdale's co-chairman Simon Gauge besides astatine the service. 

'He had a existent zest for life. Everyone astatine Rochdale is incredibly bittersweet - helium was a fantastic man,' said Gauge. 

While the work took spot wrong St Mark's Church, including touching tributes from his brother, Reuben, and partner, Chantelle, highlights from his vocation were played connected screens outside. Videos of Thompson and his household were besides shown. 

The BBC reports that Thompson's widow Chantelle told the work that the erstwhile subordinate was her 'soulmate... my rock... and my everything,' adding: 'I don't cognize who I americium without him'. 

Thompson became a regular pundit connected MUTV pursuing his status and held an ambassadorial role, on with moving arsenic a motivational talker and beingness coach.

'A antheral who epitomised our club's values,' Man United said successful a tribute pursuing the announcement of his tragic passing successful April. 'We are saddened to stock that Joe Thompson has passed away.

'A lukewarm property who had a heavy transportation with our nine from a young age, our thoughts are with Joe's household and friends astatine this hard time.'

Man United added that Thompson spearheaded the motorboat of the club's academy alumni programme — named 'United Once, United Forever' — which they stated was an industry-leading formalisation of aftercare for erstwhile Academy players. 

Thompson besides raised implicit £20,000 for further attraction and investigating to assistance aboriginal generations by completing a foundation fundraiser titled 'Walk with maine for JT.'

He completed the 21-mile locomotion with fans, friends and team-mates from Old Trafford to Rochdale, via respective stadiums successful Greater Manchester.

'If you were to accidental to me, possibly 3 oregon 4 months ago, that I'd beryllium doing a 21-mile walk, I would person snapped your manus disconnected due to the fact that I was struggling to breathe,' helium told the BBC anterior to the challenge. 

'The imaginativeness for maine is to make a wellness centre that helps radical with amended testing, besides uncovering the basal causes [of cancer] and educating people.' 

Having travel done Man United's academy Thompson spent the bulk of playing vocation astatine Rochdale, making 203 appearances crossed 3 antithetic spells, and was portion of the broadside which was promoted to League One successful 2010.

Thompson achieved leader presumption astatine the club on the last time of the 2017-18 season, scoring the lone extremity successful a 1-0 triumph which ensured the nine avoided relegation to League Two.

Rochdale wrote connected societal media that the nine was 'devastated to larn of the passing of Dale legend, Joe Thompson', adding that helium had passed distant peacefully astatine location with his household by his side.