Former Man United prospect Joe Thompson dies at 36 after third cancer diagnosis
MANCHESTER, England: Joe Thompson, a former Manchester United academy player who made more than 200 appearances for local club Rochdale, has died. He was 36. Fifth-tier English club Rochdale announced that Thompson, who had been fighting cancer for a third time, died Thursday at home with family by his side. “We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality,” Rochdale said in a statement on Friday. “He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch.