Sam Thompson quits Soccer Aid after sharing update on ITV's This Morning
Sam Thompson has been forced to withdraw from Soccer Aid after suffering a calf injury during his gruelling 261 mile five-day challenge across the country
In an unexpected turn of events, Sam Thompson has pulled out of the highly anticipated Soccer Aid match, scheduled to take place this weekend.
Sam had initially been included in the lineup for the star-studded event but made the tough decision to withdraw his participation after a training session yesterday. He is set to make a formal announcement confirming his exit from the match today.
Other notable celebrities who will still participate in the match include football legends Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes, alongside renowned Lioness players Toni Duggan, Steph Houghton, and Jill Scott. Additionally, Steve Bartlett, Paddy McGuiness, Sam Quek, Dermot Kennedy, Tom Grennan, and Martin Compston will join the fray.
International football sensation and Euro 2020 winner Leonardo Bonucci, as well as Nadia Nadim and dancer Gorka Marquez, will also take to the pitch, reports the Mirror, as well as Sam's ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott's new partner, One Direction's Louis Tomlinson.
Despite not being able to participate in the match due to an injury sustained during his charity five-day challenge where he succeeded in raising over £1 million for Unicef, Sam has transitioned into a coaching role. He will continue to play a pivotal part in the Soccer Aid event in Manchester.
Sharing an update during his appearance on This Morning on Friday, Sam expressed: "I'm still very sore, still got the torn calf, however I am here at Soccer Aid HQ and it does not get better than this. We've still got the management team of England, we've got Vicky McClure, Tyson Fury, who's stepping into some new shoes and Harry Redknapp...
"But also because I'm not going to be able to run around, you've also got me, part of the management team. Come on baby! ... I came here with high hopes and went to see Gary the physio and I can kick a ball from a standing start, but when it comes to like general chaos of playing competitive sport there's just no way. I cant really run properly so yeah. They were very kind and said we still want you to be a part, so I get to go on the dark side with Tyson Fury."
Sam has been sharing updates about his injury and recovery journey. "On the first day I did the first marathon and on the last 2k I felt like I'd been shot in the back of the leg and I've completely torn the calf muscle but it's fine I'm strapped up!" he disclosed about his injury at that time.
"We were absolutely drenched, and my back was aching, but having Chris there kept me going. I can cope with the bad conditions and the aches and pains, but my leg keeps letting me down. I was told at the last pitstop I could try and run the last few kilometres to test my leg and my recovery, so I cycled out the pitstop determined to make it as far as I could towards the stadium and tried to run into Villa Park. If I have to get up at 4am every morning for the rest of the week to complete this, I will. I'm going to make it to Manchester by Friday. I am so grateful to everyone that has supported me already and donated – that's the one thing keeping going."
He kept his followers in the loop about his recovery, posting a picture from his ice bath session. Along with the image, he expressed his determination to contribute, stating: "Trying to get those legs right for soccer aid! ! I WILL play a part."
Sam had confided in The Mirror that there was a possibility of him being medically discharged from his endeavour due to the excruciating pain he was experiencing.
He recounted the harrowing experience of his injury, revealing: "I was crying into my physio's arms on day one, because I was just so terrified that I was going to be that guy who took this on and got medically discharged. They were talking about doing that but I was like 'no'. I just got into a fast hobble and that just about worked."
The challenge Sam undertook required him to transport the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball from the previous year's venue, Stamford Bridge in London, to this year's location, Old Trafford in Manchester, covering a distance of 261 miles.
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