There are smiles, laughter and so much love in every corner of the Thompsons’ Greater Manchester home, where former professional footballer turned motivational speaker Joe and his wife Chantelle live in a renovated farmhouse with their adorable two daughters, 11-year-old Thailula and AthenaRae, who celebrated her first birthday just days before we meet.
Joe, 34, rose to professional acclaim as a footballer in the English Football League (EFL), playing for teams including Rochdale, Bury and Tranmere Rovers. The midfielder has lived and breathed football since his childhood, signing for Manchester United’s youth team aged nine before being released at 16. “Football was everything to me,” he says.
Diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system in 2013 aged just 23 and again four years later in 2017, he bravely carried on playing until finally hanging up his boots in 2019.
“I was 23 when I was first diagnosed,” he tells HELLO!. “As a footballer, you pride yourself on your body, that’s your tool. And for me to be told I’ve got cancer and it’s like stage 4 and I’ve probably had it for three to four years – to say it was gutting is an understatement.”
FAMILY OCCASION
It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for the family after welcoming the baby girl they both dote on. “We’re having a party with the family for Athena’s first birthday,” says Chantelle, a beauty entrepreneur with two businesses under her belt, BBare Cosmetics and Brazilian Booty Lift. “She knows how to say all of our names now and has been walking for the last six or seven weeks.”
Esta historia es de la edición September 25, 2023 de HELLO! UK.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 25, 2023 de HELLO! UK.
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THROWING IT BACK TO THE 1990S 'VOGUE' ERA OF THE SUPERMODEL
KATE MOSS LEADS FAMOUS FACES REFLECTING ON FASHION HEYDAY
FORMER 'MADE IN CHELSEA' STAR FRAN NEWMAN-YOUNG
DAZZLES IN BESPOKE WEDDING GOWN AS SHE TIES THE KNOT IN STYLE IN MAJORCA
LENDING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN'S HOSPICE PRINCESSES BEATRICE AND EUGENIE
BRING LIGHT INTO LITTLE ONES' LIVES AS THEY PLANT A SYMBOL OF HOPE
ON BUOYANT FORM AFTER HIS WIFE'S GOOD NEWS THE PRINCE OF WALES
DISHES OUT THE HUGS ON VISIT FROM THE HEART
WITH AN INCREDIBLE GLIMPSE INTO FAMILY LIFE THE PRINCESS OF WALES
SHARES MESSAGE OF HOPE AS SHE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE AND BALANCING HER ROLE
IN HIGH SPIRITS AT THE BRAEMAR HIGHLAND GAMES THE KING AND QUEEN
ENJOY LAUGHS APLENTY AT A FAVOURITE EVENT BEFORE MONARCH QUIETLY MARKS TWO YEARS ON THE THRONE
AS HOLLY WILLOUGHBY RETURNS NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS
STARS DAZZLE ON NIGHT OF GLAMOUR AND GONGS
CREATING A NEW SISTER ACT ELIZABETH OLSEN
ON CO-STARRING WITH NATASHA LYONNE AND CARRIE COON
MAKING HISTORY AT STARSTUDDED EVENT IN NEW YORK TAYLOR SWIFT
SMASHES IT WITH SEVEN OF THE BEST AT THE V.M.As
KIM KARDASHIAN AND DAKOTA JOHNSONS
FASHION AND COMPASSION AT A-LIST CHARITY EVENT