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.”
Denne historien er fra September 25, 2023-utgaven av HELLO! UK.
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Denne historien er fra September 25, 2023-utgaven av HELLO! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
AS 'THE DIPLOMAT RETURNS KERI RUSSELL
ON HAVING FUN WITH RUFUS SEWELL, MEETING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND BEING STRAPPED TO TOM CRUISE
FROM HIS CHALLENGING CHILDHOOD TO HOLLYWOOD'S HOT LIST BARRY KEOGHAN
ON BEING DRAWN TO STRONG WOMEN AND ENJOYING LIFE WITH HIS LITTLE BOY
AS 'THE SUBSTANCE' IS RELEASED MARGARET QUALLEY
ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM BALLET TO HOLLYWOOD
BUSY MUM-TO-BE AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE
TEAMS UP WITH SISTER PRINCESS EUGENIE TO SUPPORT THEIR FATHER IN HIS EXILE FROM ROYAL LIFE
CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S HEALTH THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH
HONOURS 60 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING CHARITY
AS ONE DIRECTION REUNITE TO BID FAREWELL TO FORMER BANDMATE LIAM PAYNE
HUGS AND TEARS AS MOURNING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
CELEBRATING HER GAME-CHANGING NEW CONCEALER VICTORIA'S SECRETS
THE DESIGNER SHARES HER TOP SKINCARE TIPS AND REVEALS WHICH PRODUCTS HARPER LOVES TO STEAL
CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN
JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'
CONTINUING A FESTIVE TRADITION - WITH A TINY NEW TREAT TO DELIGHT VISITORS WINDSOR CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS
STAFF DECK THE HALLS - AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROYAL DOLLS' HOUSE
SNAPPING UP RECORD-BREAKING £60M MANSION IN MIAMI THE BECKHAMS
WE GO INSIDE THEIR BILLION-DOLLAR LIFESTYLE AS THE FAMILY PREPARE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAND