FORMER Ards team-mate Brian ‘Bam’ Neeson says young Jerry Thompson had the “world at his feet” and was “just a happy-go-lucky kid”.
The Irish Football League community was plunged into mourning following the sudden death of the 24-year-old north Belfast man.
Heartfelt tributes poured in on social media on Tuesday night when it emerged Thompson failed to show for Carrick Ranger’s Irish Premiership game with Glenavon.
Neeson played and travelled with Thompson with Ards at the beginning of the season.
“I trained a few of Jerry’s friends as well,” Neeson said.
“I went on to Twitter to catch the latest score of the Carrick-Glenavon match and I saw Jerry’s name was on the team sheet.
“I was then speaking to his cousin about his training slot the next day and he told me about Jerry. I said: ‘You’re talking nonsense. You shouldn’t be joking about stuff like that.’
“As he was talking I went back on my phone and noticed on Carrick’s Twitter page that there was one late change on their team – somebody [Reece Neale] replacing Jerry Thompson. I sat in absolute shock. It is just unbelievable.”
Thompson, who became a father for the first time earlier this year, had spells with Larne, Portadown, Donegal Celtic and Cliftonville Olympic.
“He was just a nice kid, a good looking kid, loads of energy, happy, always joking,” Neeson said.
“His partner and him just had a wee baby earlier this year and it seemed like he had the world at his feet.
“He would come into the gym, he’d do his weights and he’d finish off with a 5km run. He was always trying to beat the time he did before. He had a good mindset."
Neeson added: “In the summer he joined Ards and we travelled up and down to pre-season and the first month of the season and then he moved to Carrick Rangers where he’d been playing really well. He was man-of-the-match last weekend and was picked in the team of the week last week. It’s just devastating news.”
Saturday’s Irish Premiership match between Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville has been postponed as a mark of respect.
If you are suffering from mental health issues and need to talk to someone, please contact The Samaritans, Belfast free-phone 116-123
