Former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson is set to be presented with the Sir Tom Finney Award at the EFL 2019 Awards this Sunday. Thompson made over 250 appearances in his 13-year career, over 200 of which came for Rochdale before retiring after twice battling cancer.
Joe Thompson to be Presented With Sir Tom Finney Award
Thompson’s Story
A story that resonated with the nation, the 30-year old sadly announced that he would be hanging up his playing boots midway through the 2018/19 campaign – just months after scoring one of Rochdale’s most famous goals to save the club from relegation at the end of last season.
Having battled back from Hodgkin lymphoma cancer, Thompson etched himself into Rochdale folklore with the goal that kept his side afloat, and the emotion in his celebration was clear for everybody to see.
The Sir Tom Finney Award is presented to a player who has had an outstanding career and contributed an exceptional amount to the EFL and football in general, something that Thompson can certainly lay claim to doing.
The award, renamed in honour of the Preston North End and England legend following his death in 2014, recognises Thompson’s talent, commitment and model professionalism throughout his career, as well as his inspirational story, which has been exemplary to all those involved within football.
What He Said
Upon being told of his success, Thompson said: “To win this award is amazing. When I got told the other day I was doing a dance around the kitchen.
“I feel like my next chapter in life is going to be bigger than my football career. I am going to help people, and use what I’ve experienced to benefit others. To be recognised for what I’ve contributed to football and the league, in particular, is incredible – it is truly humbling.”
During his first spell at Rochdale, Thompson was an integral part of the side that achieved promotion from League Two to League One, Dale’s first promotion in 41 years, making 40 appearances in total and scoring on eight occasions.
After battling back from his initial diagnosis in 2013, whilst on the books of Tranmere Rovers, Thompson rebuilt his professional career despite the toll taken on his body from the treatment. Firing on all cylinders and back at his first professional Club, Thompson was yet again cruelly dealt a further blow, with the cancer returning three years later.
Upon learning of the devastating news, Thompson said: “When you have a terrible illness like that, it affects you, and it affected me massively. I was unable to get through training, I was struggling with all the symptoms you expect with cancer.
“I was 23, had a little girl and the perfect family in a way – I just didn’t see it coming. Before learning of it, everything felt so fast in games, and I just couldn’t keep up and didn’t understand why this was happening. Everything was passing me by, it is a feeling that is so hard to describe, but it affects you in every way.
“Naively when finding out about the illness I asked ‘what does this mean for my football career?’. After a six-month chemotherapy treatment schedule, I thought I’d be back on the pitch for the end of the season, it was at that point the doctor simply said, ‘No, young man, your football career could be over and you need to focus on your life’… It was hard to hear.”
Previous Winners
Former Southampton and Liverpool forward Rickie Lambert was the last player to win the award, with Kevin O’Connor and Kevin Davies coming before him in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
Prior to that, ex-Sunderland man Kevin Phillips won in 2015 and Steve Fletcher was the inaugural winner in 2014.
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