'He was a great man' - Manchester United's touching tribute to former footballer Joe Thompson Tributes from clubs are flooding in - Dale players will wear black armbands at Altrincham on Good Friday Joe Thompson (Image: Getty Images ) Manchester United have paid touching tribute to former Rochdale footballer Joe Thompson, who has died aged 36 after a third battle with cancer. Father-of-two Joey T - a fans' favourite at Spotland - earned a contract at United's academy and joined the club in 1998, playing youth team football alongside future graduates Tom Cleverley, Danny Drinkwater and James Chester. ‌ United, in a tribute today, said Joe remembered his time at Old Trafford 'as having provided a necessary structure and discipline to his life'. "It also allowed him to travel the world, make friends and grow in confidence," said United. "He would pay tribute to its impact throughout his life and spent his later years dedicated to helping others experience the same value." The Premier League club's tribute echoed sentiments expressed by other clubs and football fans across the country flooding social media today. Rochdale, meanwhile, have confirmed to the Manchester Evening News players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect at today's Good Friday National League derby clash at Altrincham. A minute's applause or silence is currently being discussed between the two clubs. Article continues below Plans to honour Joe at Monday night's league game with AFC Fylde at the Crown Oil Arena are also being finalised. Dale are drawing up plans for a tribute (Image: Manchester Evening News ) The club said Joe passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, with his family at his side. ‌ It was announced by Joe himself in April last year that he was fighting cancer for a third time, stage four Hodgkin lymphoma. He beat nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma in 2014 after six months of chemotherapy, but in March 2017 he confirmed the cancer had returned after a tumour was found on his chest. He stopped playing while he underwent more treatment - including a stem cell transplant - and was told he was in complete remission again after fighting back, returning to football and Rochdale in December, 2017. He retired in 2019, after making more than 200 appearances for Dale and scoring a fairytale strike against Charlton Athletic in May 2018, which kept Rochdale in League One and sent rivals Oldham Athletic down to League Two. ‌ Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Joe was let go by Manchester United aged 16 and joined Dale, making his first team debut in May, 2006. A transfer to Tranmere followed. Joe went on to turn out for Bury and Carlisle United, before returning to Dale. He retired in 2019 and received the Sir Tom Finney Award, given to those who have had an outstanding career and contributed an exceptional amount to the English Football League. He then pursued a career in motivational speaking and spearheaded the launch of United's Academy Alumni programme - 'United Once, United Forever' - which the club said was an industry-leading formalisation of aftercare for former academy players. ‌ Joe scores for Dale in 2010 (Image: PA ) Joe was also an MUTV pundit and raised more than £20,000 for cancer treatment and testing on his 'Walk with me for JT' walk from Old Trafford to Dale's ground. In a post on social media, Manchester United called Joe 'a man who epitomised our club's values'. ‌ "Everyone who knew Joe thought he was a great man, whose personality lit up every room he entered despite the pain he had endured in his life," the club said. "We’ll always remember him and send our deepest condolences to his wife, Chantelle, and two daughters. "A warm personality who had a deep connection with our club from a young age, our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this difficult time." In a statement, Rochdale said: "We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality. He faced every battle head-on, both on and off the pitch. His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story. Article continues below "Above all of that, Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae."