Wheelchair to Sheffield Wednesday: Remarkable teenage defender pens Owls pro deal

The 17-year-old right-back spent his early life in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Perthes Disease – a rare childhood condition that affects the hips – but managed to overcome his problems to forge a way in the competitive football world against the odds.

Now, not long after celebrating his 17th birthday, Thompson’s father has confirmed that he has signed his first professional deal with the Owls as he hopes to push on up the ranks whenever football is able to return.

Thompson Snr, who is the assistant manager at Stocksbridge Park Steels, told Non-League Yorkshire, “I know he’s my son, but he has a bright future. Where and wherever it is I think he has a long career in football ahead of him. The amount of kids who make it pro at the highest level is minimal, but if he doesn’t make it at Sheffield Wednesday I’m sure he’ll have a career somewhere else.

“With injuries, you don’t know how short a career will be so we have said to him that he needs to have a back-up which he has gone and got that. He’s worked really hard to get his grades.

“I’m over the moon that he has got his one-year contract. We had an inkling that something was in the pipeline, but with what is going on it was a worrying time. But we got the call last week and he’s agreed it and its now signed and sealed.”

Thompson Jnr played his part for Wednesday’s U18s last season as they went on to win the U18 Professional Development North title, and went on to take the step up to the U23s last year as he made his first start at that level in December.

Fellow teenagers Osaze Urhoghide and Alex Hunt, made their Wednesday debuts earlier in the 2019/20 season, with the Owls clearly trying to keep an eye on the future.