Dale legend Joe Thompson and former Dale youth player Bader Al-Akkad to lead charity match

Dale legend Joe Thompson and former Dale Youth player Bader Al-Akkad

A special charity match led by Dale legend Joe Thompson and former Dale youth player Bader Al-Akkad is being played at the Crown Oil Arena next month.

Both men have overcome diagnoses of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have joined forces to bring the Goals for Cure match to Rochdale on Monday 29 May.

The Joe Thompson XI will take on a Celebrity All Stars XI to raise funds for the Christie – where both men were treated – and Souriyat Across Borders, a refugee aid charity which Bader, who is of Syrian origin, says “is close to his heart.”

Joe was diagnosed with the rare blood cancer when he was just 23, which returned three years later. He retired from playing football in 2019 and now presents a BBC radio show.

Bader is currently a youth player with Stockport County FC and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s in November 2021. After six months of treatment, he beat the illness.

Bader returned to football through last year’s first Goals for Cure match, which saw celebrities and ex-players play on the day.

He said: “I threw an event with Stockport County aiming to raise money. We had 1,050 attending and raised £10,000 for charity.

“This year I’ve partnered up with Joe to raise the profile of the event and to raise more money for charity.”

Kick-off is 3pm and tickets can be purchased here or at the stadium.

Alternatively, donations can be made via:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bader-al-akkad-1