logo
EXCLUSIVE Ex-footballer hopes Joe Thompson is 'proud' after he completes incredible 37-hour fitness challenge in honour of former team-mate who died aged 36 in April

EXCLUSIVE Ex-footballer hopes Joe Thompson is 'proud' after he completes incredible 37-hour fitness challenge in honour of former team-mate who died aged 36 in April

Daily Mail​8 hours ago
As the self-doubt started to bleed into Simon Ramsden's thoughts, his legs like jelly, arms aching, tears rolling down his face, he just needed a reminder of why he was putting himself through all the pain.
'I had pictures of Joe all around the room,' Ramsden tells Mail Sport.
On June 27, the former Sunderland and Rochdale footballer started the hardest challenge of his life. For 37 hours straight, he completed back-to-back workout classes in honour of his ex-team-mate Joe Thompson, who sadly passed away following a third battle with cancer, back in April.
This was not Ramsden's first rodeo. He had previously completed a 25-hour challenge to raise funds for Thompson's cancer treatment while he was still fighting the illness; the 43-year-old is a crazy fitness challenge specialist.
However, nothing could prepare him for what he would face in those gruelling 37 hours.
He had to fight with every fibre of his being, both physically and mentally, to keep going. As time ticked by, he fell deeper into a pain cave that had him wondering whether the challenge was even feasible.
But whenever his thoughts turned negative, just one look up at his surroundings would sort him out.
'There was no way I wasn't going to do the 37,' Ramsden continues. 'There was a lot of pressure on me to fulfill that. It's alright me talking the talk, but if I drop out after 30, you look like a bit of a fool, don't you? So I knew I had to do it, I was just in the zone, completely in the zone.
'I had pictures of Joe all around the room. I had little things that people weren't aware of, in the toilets, there were quotes.
'Everywhere I went in between, like when I was grabbing a drink, there'd be a picture of Joe or quotes or motivational stuff, just because I knew it was going to get tough. Little things just to keep me going.
'And then my partner, a few pep talks. I remember my body was just broken at one point; I couldn't lift my arms above my head. I couldn't walk down the stairs. I was gone.
'She was there to try and pick me up because I was physically and mentally just broken. This was about six hours to go.'
Ramsden, who played alongside Thompson for three years at Rochdale, was not alone in this challenge. Each class he was joined by a new bunch of people eager to help the cause and raise money for Thompson's wife and two daughters.
Former Sunderland manager, Peter Reid, was one of hundreds to take part in the challenge alongside Ramsden, who can't quite believe just how many people supported the cause.
'I had like ex-team-mates coming from all over the country at different times, friends from people I've not seen for 20 years just rocking up, doing one class, two classes. It just shows how inspirational Joe was to so many people,' Ramsden adds.
'Now, a lot of the people in the room didn't even know Joe, didn't meet him, but they've seen his story. They've seen his kids, and they wanted to buy into it.
'But the people who did know him they've travelled. I had a friend come from Carlisle at one in the morning, just to say good luck. Then he ended up doing five in a row. I had a friend from Liverpool come up, just done one class, and drove home.
'Honestly, when I thought of this idea, I couldn't have ever imagined it would have gone as big, and that people would have supported it like they did. It's been incredible.'
Ramsden and Thompson grew incredibly close during their time together at Rochdale. Despite the now body transformation coach, who owns his own fitness company, leaving Rochdale in 2009, the pair stayed in touch and grew closer and closer as Thompson started his battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, which first started back in 2013.
The ex-defender was with the 'special man' every step of the way until he passed away earlier this year, and just wished that Thomspon was still around to watch the challenge with his family.
'I just wish he were here to witness it, his beautiful kids, and the milestones that they're going to be doing. Joe would have loved to have been a part of the weekend,' says the former Sunderland man.
'I'm really glad his brother came up to be a part of it. He came on the Saturday afternoon and joined in. That was lovely. And then, his wife and kids joined in.
Thompson made over 200 appearances for Rochdale before his retirement in 2019
Ramsden played along Thompson for three years in Lancashire and hopes he is 'proud' of him
'I think Joe will be proud, and he knows how much he meant to me, and likewise, so many times when I've needed him in the past, he's been there for me.
'One of the songs that I picked, which you'll see in the video. The chorus is, 'I hope I'm making you proud.' I picked it for a reason.'
Overall, the series of workouts has raised over £9,500 for Thompson's family, which is over three times more than the target originally set. And still, the number continues to rise.
The truly inspiring work done by Ramsden after such a heartbreaking loss has left him feeling fulfilled. While it has been an incredibly difficult and emotional few months for him and those who knew Thompson, the challenge has allowed him to celebrate Thompson's life and the man that he was.
'There were times when it was extremely tough, but so rewarding, especially when Joe's wife and kids turned up, and different parts of the weekend. It was incredible.
'There's been a bond that's come out of tragedy here, how close the families have got. I would love her [Thompson's wife Chantelle] to come up and keep Joe's legacy going at my classes.
'I'd love to keep his logo on some of my stuff and just keep this, keep this going and keep the story going because I think anybody that was there this weekend, it's a weekend that we'll always cherish. It's something that I don't think anybody will ever forget.
'I hope his kids, especially, it lives long in their memory and they realise how much everyone thought of their dad because he was a special man.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Playing loose with virtue wins no hearts, and Arsenal should know better
Playing loose with virtue wins no hearts, and Arsenal should know better

The Guardian

time23 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Playing loose with virtue wins no hearts, and Arsenal should know better

'We are courageous in the pursuit of progress.' 'We champion our community and each other.' 'We do the right thing (even when no one is looking).' The values and culture of Arsenal Football Club, as proclaimed on the club's careers website. Shall we generously call that half a point out of three? Certainly you would struggle to mark Arsenal too highly on courage or intrinsic goodliness right now. But the unhappy case of Thomas Partey illustrates the lengths to which they are willing to go to champion one of their own. You knew. I knew. Rival fans knew, even if their taunting of Partey was always delivered with the sort of gleeful relish that does not exactly scream concern for the alleged victims of sexual violence. And so of course did the staff and board of Arsenal; knew the man with whom they shared a workplace and a dressing room until last week, knew what he was accused of doing. Care, compassion and discretion are of course utterly vital at this point. The charging of Partey on 4 July means the accusations against him will finally be heard in court in early August: five counts of rape, and one of sexual assault, involving three separate women between 2021 and 2022. Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire of Hickman and Rose, referred in a statement to her client now 'welcoming the opportunity to finally clear his name'. And it is the word 'finally' that stands out here: an acknowledgment of the protracted and often painful three-year process that has brought us to this point, during which Partey was the word English football dared not speak. Wiltshire, of course, is deeply familiar with such matters. She was also employed by the Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy, who was cleared in 2023 of seven charges of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault. 'She has often achieved positive results for her clients long before the charge stage,' reads her corporate bio. 'This has caused her to be much in demand by high‑profile clients seeking a swift and discreet resolution to what, if made public, would be highly damaging allegations.' All of which is an acknowledgment that there is always a wider consideration to such cases: establishing a verdict and getting to the truth, but also managing the optics and reputations. Partey denies all the charges against him. There is no sense in prejudging the outcome of his case before all the facts come to light. The presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial are important legal principles in this country. But the presumption of shining personal virtue is not, and many of Arsenal's actions over the past three years give the impression of an organisation not simply content to employ Partey, but positively proud of doing so. Who seriously considered – at the urging of coach Mikel Arteta – offering a new contract and extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium beyond last Monday. Who regarded their talented central midfielder not as an alleged rapist but as a man to be lauded and celebrated, perhaps even a kind of victim himself. Three months after being arrested for the first time, and about a year after Arsenal were first made aware of a rape allegation against him, Partey scored a thumping goal against Tottenham in the north London derby. Afterwards, Arteta said: 'For what he's been through, and the injuries, and the effort that he put in this week, to be available for the team, I'm so happy for him. He deserves it.' Over the subsequent years Partey would play more than 100 times for Arsenal. His goals would earn them four points in the Premier League; his defensive work probably earned them many more. His collision with Rodri in which the Spaniard injured knee ligaments may well have had a decisive influence on the 2024‑25 title. Meanwhile Arteta would continually lionise Partey's importance to Arsenal on the pitch, and towards the end of last season reiterated that he wanted Partey to stay. Obviously it would have been legally complex for Arsenal to terminate Partey's contract before criminal charges had been laid. But of course there are steps that it is perfectly reasonable for a club to take against a player that do not require an absolute burden of criminal proof. Richly talented footballers such as Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were quietly moved towards the exit for perceived off-field failings. Last year a kit manager called Mark Bonnick was sacked for social media posts he wrote about Israel. And there were plenty of legally unproblematic options available to Arsenal here that might have offered a certain comfort to the fans now feeling a sense of betrayal at the actions of the club they love. You do not, for example, have to praise him on social media. You do not have to pay tribute to his character or resilience after 'what he's been through'. You do not have to play him 108 times or spend much of June deliberating over whether he is worth a new contract. Who at the club made these calls and why? Who knew what, when? Who spoke out and who did not? And in supporting him so unconditionally, was it in fact Arsenal who are guilty of prejudging Partey's case long before a jury would ever get the chance? Arsenal fans deserve answers, but it appears none are forthcoming for now. 'Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case,' they said in a statement. And perhaps in terms of the PR, this is Arsenal's best strategy right now: say nothing, do nothing, and hope the whole storm passes. There is a new figurehead at the base of midfield, and quite apart from being a better and younger player Martín Zubimendi offers the sensation of renewal, of turning the page, perhaps even a kind of purgation. The women are champions of Europe and will play all their home league games at the Emirates next season. There are always happier, simpler stories to tell, and Arsenal will never get tired of telling those. Naturally we should be wary of singling out Arsenal here. There is, or should be, no room for tribal triumphalism. Many other clubs would have acted similarly in similar circumstances. In a sense Arsenal's business-as-usual stance over the past three years is simply one of the defining characteristics of end-stage capitalism, one in which big companies ruthlessly pursue the bottom line while trumpeting their virtue. We are courageous in the pursuit of progress. We champion our community and each other. We do the right thing (even when no one is looking). This is the moral creed of Arsenal. Their fans are still waiting for them to deliver on it.

Jannik Sinner vs Grigor Dimitrov: Score and latest Wimbledon updates
Jannik Sinner vs Grigor Dimitrov: Score and latest Wimbledon updates

Telegraph

time25 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Jannik Sinner vs Grigor Dimitrov: Score and latest Wimbledon updates

Good afternoon and welcome to day eight coverage from Wimbledon as Jannik Sinner resumes his bid for a maiden title. The Italian takes on Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov on Centre Court for a place in the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old showed why he is one of the favourites to win with a ruthless 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Spain's Pedro Martinez. Sinner has dropped just 17 games on his way to the fourth round but insists he is taking nothing for granted. 'I just try to watch more my side of the net, trying to keep my level as high as I can,' he said. 'Never taking things for granted in any case. Especially on grass when you are mentally not 100% or maybe you're a bit slow at times, it's easily dropped one set. One break is easily done, as we saw today in the second set. He had couple of break points. If I don't serve well there, things can go complicated. 'I'm happy, of course. In the other way, now let's see what's coming because the opponents, obviously whoever is in the fourth round, they deserve to be there. It means that they play a very high level of tennis. Let's see what's coming.' Dimitrov is aiming to reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the 2nd time, 11 years after his first appearance here and says he is feeling good going into the match. 'After three matches to be where I'm at physically, really gives me a good, yeah, positive and upbeat way to get out there and play my game,' he said. 'That's all I want is to put myself in those type of positions, to, yeah, get out there and play against these guys right now. This is in a way the most important thing for me. 'I've put a lot of work prior to the tournament. I had to make some decisions that, you know, it put me in a very good spot, I think. Yeah, will it be an easy match? No. If you are asking me that, definitely not. I don't expect that either. But, yeah, I'm just looking forward to it.'

Why Wimbledon is changing electronic line-calling
Why Wimbledon is changing electronic line-calling

Daily Mail​

time33 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Why Wimbledon is changing electronic line-calling

Wimbledon have overhauled their electronic line calling system to prevent future 'human errors' following the extraordinary blunder in the match involving Britain's Sonay Kartal. During the first set of Sunday's fourth-round clash between Kartal and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a Hawk-Eye operator accidentally switched off the ball-tracking technology for one game. It meant a Kartal shot that was clearly out was not called, leading to farcical scenes on Centre Court as play was temporarily suspended. After umpire Nico Helwerth eventually ordered for the point to be replayed, Kartal won it and went on to win the game, with Pavlyuchenkova accusing the official of having pro-Brit bias. Following the incident, Wimbledon released a statement apologising and launched a 'thorough' review. They have now amended the ELC system – which has replaced human line judges at Wimbledon for the first time this year - so an operator can no longer turn off the ball-tracking technology by accidentally unticking a box. An All England Club spokesperson said: 'Our live ELC system relies on the cameras and technology working in harmony with the operators and review officials. 'We have conducted a thorough review of our systems and processes. What is clear is that the ball-tracking technology has been working optimally during The Championships. 'In this instance, there was a human error which deactivated the ball tracking cameras on part of the server's side of the court. Umpire Helwerth was heavily criticised following Sunday's match, with the rulebook stating that should the ELC system not work, 'the call shall be made by the chair umpire'. The German official was not given a match on Monday, but Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton insisted he had not been stood down and was merely having a 'rest day'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store