Proud dad Lee Thompson says playing against his son Declan Eratt-Thompson is something he could never have imagined when the young Sheffield Wednesday defender was five.
Stocksbridge Park Steels assistant manager Thompson went head-to-head with his son in the last 15 minutes of the pre-season clash with an Owls X1 at Bracken Moor on Tuesday night.
Given Eratt-Thompson spent his early life in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Perthes Disease, the feat is another incredible moment for the Thompson family.
“With how he were (when he was five) I would have been lucky to play five-a-side with him,” Thompson told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is a remarkable story because of how he has fought back and got to where he wanted to be.
“It shows his will-power but a father and son to play in a game at that level with two fairly big clubs is a massive achievement for the pair of us.
“It was really nice to have the whole family there and the picture of me and the lads on the pitch after.
“My daughter was there, my dad, my sister, my partner, my nephews and it was nice thing for us to all witness.
“I was so proud.
“I’ve played and trained with him, but nothing compared to Tuesday night.
“It was a surreal moment to play against him and be up against him.
“Everyone was like ‘why’s he going against his son’.
“Well I am a former striker and why not?
“Joe Lumsden who has been out for a while was stiffing up so it fell right.”
The evening was a night to remember for Thompson – but he does have one regret.
“I probably should have tried to ruff him up because he set the winner up,” quipped Thompson.
“He burst past me and I chased him down and went to trip him up but pulled out because I didn’t want to injure him.
“He slipped the ball through and they went and scored the winner.
“I wouldn’t have lived it down (if I had brought him down and injured him).
“I had the whole family there and his agent and the Wednesday manager Lee Bullen said to me afterwards ‘I thought you were going to take him out’.
“I said ‘I were’!”
Boston United legend Thompson has so many memories to cherish from the past year.
His son signing a professional contract last summer was the first one.
When the Owls had an outbreak ahead of the FA Cup third round tie at Exeter City, it forced them to play their youth players.
Eratt-Thompson came on as late substitute in the televised match and his dad was caught on camera crying whilst at home watching it on his television.
The clip went viral and was viewed by millions of people and the story was covered by the national media.
“They are all different moments and all give different emotions,” Thompson said.
“You can’t rank them because they are all so special and I’m just thankful we’ve had them.
“It would have been nice to have been there for his debut.
“That would have made it even more special.
“There was the raw emotion of him coming on whereas with the others we knew they were happening.
“Him coming on was a significant moment and I’ve got that video and I’ll never lose that.”
The Thompson football dynasty is far from over.
Coby Eratt-Thompson has been training with Stocksbridge this summer so could there be an opportunity for a trio of Thompson’s on the field in 2022?
“Potentially, if Dec is still there and me and Coby are still (with Stocksbridge),” he added.
“If I keep myself fit which I should, then I don’t see why not.
“But you never know how football is going to pan out.”
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams.
Our work is playing an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.
Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.