At Onside Soccer it is important that the children and young people who come along to our projects see and hear about positive role models.  While there are, of course, good role models in the world of professional football, there are many more people who quietly make a long-lasting and profound impact on the world around them, and it is those people who we try to celebrate as much as possible at Onside.  Someone who fits that description is Rhiana Thompson and that is why, from 2025 onwards, the Onside Cup which our junior players in Carshalton compete for over the course of the season has been renamed The Rhiana Thompson Memorial Trophy.

 

A life well lived

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Rhiana Thompson was born on the 11th May 1996.  At birth she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and she was not expected to survive.  However, a major operation when she was just three days old saved her life and she was eventually well enough to be able to go home with her parents, Roger and Sharron.  Throughout her childhood Rhiana would continue to need medical care and required a number of major operations as a child.  Against all the odds Rhiana thrived, and was soon joined in the family by three siblings (Derrion, Perri-Ross and Brent, who many of our players know as an Onside coach). 

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It was clear from a very early stage that Rhiana was a special person.  She was tough – no matter what medical difficulties she faced, she hit them head on with determination and resolve.  In her teens, after another period of illness, when she was told by doctors that all hope was gone, her response to her distraught family was ‘Calm down, I'm not going nowhere!’.  And she was right! 

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Although Rhiana’s life was impacted by her condition, she lived her life on her own terms.  She traveled, she enjoyed meeting her friends, she loved eating at new restaurants and experiencing the fullness of life and she lived a life rooted in her faith. And she especially loved working with children.  That is why our junior trophy has been renamed in her memory.

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To those who were fortunate enough to know her, she was generous, kind, funny and tough.  She demonstrated resilence and determination her entire life.  Rhiana passed away on the 5th December 2024.  She is much loved and much missed.

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Rest in Peace Rhiana xo