Sam Thompson has decided to pull out of Soccer Aid, just hours before the football match takes place this weekend. He faced his ex Zara McDermott’s new man Louis Tomlinson in training

Sam Thompson has pulled out of Soccer Aid (Image: ©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures)

Sam Thompson has pulled out of Soccer Aid just days before the match. Sam was due to play in the event this weekend but after training yesterday, he has decided to pull out of the show.

He is set to make the announcement today, where he will confirm he would no longer play in the match. Other stars set to play this weekend including football legends Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes as well as Lioness stars Toni Duggan, Steph Houghton and Jill Scott. Steve Bartlett will also appear in the match.

Euro 2020 winner Leonardo Bonucci, Nadia Nadim, Diamond and dancer Gorka Marquez will play this weekend too, alongside Paddy McGuiness, Sam Quek, Dermot Kennedy, Tom Grennan and Martin Compston.

Sam Thompson recently finished his ‘Match Ball Mission’ challenge for Soccer Aid for UNICEF (Image:

Getty Images)
Sam will not play this weekend after sustaining an injury during his five-day challenge, during which he raised money for Unicef and smashed the £1 million mark. He tore his calf in dramatic scenes during the challenge.

He now has more of a coaching role and will still play a big part in the event in Manchester. He said on This Morning today: “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.”

Louis and Sam were back in training today – with Sam’s new role as a coach (Image:

PA)
Sam has documented his injury and his recovery so far. “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 revealed of his injury at the 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.”

Sam suffered a calf injury (Image:

samthompsonuk/Instagram)
He had been updating fans on his progress, sharing a snap from his ice plunge. Alongside the photo, he was adamant he wanted to help. He said: “Trying to get those legs right for soccer aid!! I WILL play a part.”

Sam had told The Mirror there was talk of him being medically discharged from his challenge because he was in so much pain.

Speaking to us about his terrifying injury, he said: “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.”

Sam’s challenge involved hi, delivering the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match ball from last year’s stadium, Stamford Bridge, London, to the home of this year’s match, Old Trafford, Manchester. The total distance was 261miles.