Football: Joe Thompson to launch his autobiography at Crown Oil Arena

Joe Thompson is launching his autobiography – Darkness and Light: My Story

Dale’s Joe Thompson is launching his autobiography – Darkness and Light: My Story – and fans have the chance to meet him.

Joe’s book is set for release to the public on Monday 22 October, but will be available to purchase exclusively from the Rochdale AFC Club Shop on Wednesday 17 October, from 4pm-6pm.

Fans will have the chance to meet Joe, purchase his book and have it signed by the man himself.

About Darkness and Light: My Story

Darkness and Light: My Story is the heart-wrenching and soul-stirring autobiography of Joe, a footballer and two-time cancer survivor.

His mother's battle with mental illness and father's descent into a life of drugs and crime saw him battle adversity from birth. Football opened up a new world of opportunity when Manchester United signed him, aged nine.

Joe spent six years living every boy's dream but was left devastated when the club released him at 16. He bounced back to forge a career in the Football League, before his life was thrown into turmoil. At 23, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. Six months of chemotherapy followed, which eventually rid his body of the disease.

He had been given a second chance at life, but three years later he was given the shock news that his cancer had returned.  An 18-day stay in an isolation unit reduced him to skin and bone, but he vowed that he wouldn't be beaten.

For a second time, Joe gave cancer the boot and he has since made an incredible return to professional football, appearing for Dale at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fifth round replay, as well as scoring the goal that meant Dale survived relegation from League One on the final day of the season.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/118582/football-dale-avoid-relegation