Tom Pope desperately tries to explain his actions after threats made in argument with fan

Tom Pope desperately tries to explain his actions after threats made in an argument with a fan on social media on Friday.

The 39 year old, a former EFL footballer, issued an apology after threatening to “punch the f***ing head” of a fan on Twitter, later discovering the supporter had cancer.

The incident stemmed from a heated online exchange where Pope believed the fan was mocking him. Pope claimed he was unaware of the fan’s condition, thinking the cancer mention was a taunt in response to his threat.

He expressed regret on Twitter, wishing the fan a speedy recovery. The row sparked backlash, with fans calling Pope’s actions “disgusting” and questioning his role as player-manager at Northern Premier League Division One West side Kidsgrove Athletic.

It also escalated when Pope gave his take on now ex-Port Vale defender Nathan Smith announcing his exit from the club after 16 years.

Tom Pope posted: ‘Fans can say “Oh he’s your mate” I was a pro for 17 years I know what league 1 and 2 is about! I watched Stockport Orient last night with Horsfall and Beckles who couldn’t lace his boots and can’t pass either.

‘Played out from the back for 6 month, Smudge in promotion. Bye.’

Fans can say “oh he’s your mate” I was a pro for 17 years I know what league 1 and 2 is about! I watched Stockport Orient last night with Horsfall and Beckles who couldn’t lace his boots and can’t pass either 🙄 played out from the back for 6 month, Smudge in promotion 🤷🏻‍♂️ bye 👋🏻 https://t.co/TgBmUB8jvI

— Tom Pope (@TomPope69507931) May 15, 2025

Nathan Shapland: Don’t tell Darren Moore about managing then by that logic

Tom Pope: And how’s that then?

Nathan Shapland: Because you’ve not been a pro manager

Tom Pope: That’s your last comment I won’t block you because that’s what fannies do but I’m not replying to you again! You don’t know football and you’re a shitbag so got no more time to offer you 👍🏼 you’re a waste of time

Nathan Shapland: Good reasonable response

Tom Pope: Reasonable you’ve spent 2 days talking shit and pissing me off you little runt! That threat yesterday obviously didn’t register so now I’ll leave before your mouth leaves you in a situation you can’t run away from! You talk shit and think you’re beating me that’s the internet 👍🏼

Nathan Shapland: Your treating a football debate far too seriously didn’t have you down as a snowflake

The two have been going at each other long before this, with Tom Pope calling Nathan Shapland a ‘cheeky p***k’ and then threatened: ‘You better hope none of my mates point you out to me I promise you now.’

Prior to that, he had posted: ‘Oh I’m way over it mate I don’t go back getting claps and stuff “Oh you legend” “My son loved you” like every other ex player would! But I promise you now Nath after that comment I will now find out ALL about you mate you better hope you’re over 18 I promise you that.’

Shapland replied: ‘Very grown up.’

He then uploaded a screenshot of a private message from Pope, which read: ‘You can put this on Twitter mate and show everyone you want. I’m going to punch your f***ing head in my warnings haven’t obviously sunk in after repeatedly telling you to leave it and you kept on and on and on behind your phone in your mums bedroom.

‘Obviously a big mouth whos never had a good slap but I’m going to now show you what a mouth like that gets you. I did warn you so don’t start crying pal.’

Shapland replied: ‘Mums dead pal.’

Pope: ‘Oh well I’ll make sure you join her then,’

Shapland responded: ‘Lovely my chemo might get me first.’

Pope then wrote: ‘Let’s hope.’

After that, Pope posted: “I’ve threatened a lad who abuses me and he said I’ve got cancer! As if anyone would take that as gospel 😡 I didn’t know he did ffs I thought he was taking the piss I’m not that horrible 😢 I thought he said it because I threatened him 🤷🏻‍♂️ anyway speedy recovery big gob 👊🏼💙”

Nathan Shapland replied: “Never abused you just questioned over football ffs, get help mate”

When accused of ‘backtracking’, Pope responded: Backtracking 😡😡 he follows me I don’t know who he is do I you idiot 😡 trying make out I’d wish someone dead who I don’t even know you can all fuck off! If you all honestly think I knew he had that and still sent that to him then that’s on you lot 😔 you obviously don’t know me

@pvfctv2: He literally told you that he’s suffering from cancer, Tom. Are you trying to wind us all up?

Tom Pope: So if you walk down the street and you walk past a man sat on the floor begging and he said “im actually a multimillionaire with a 10 bedroom house” would you believe him? No thought not

Shapland: ‘If you briefly look at my account you’d have known before kicking off I’m very open about it that’s my way of dealing with it.’

Pope: ‘No I don’t look at your account I see your name abusing me and hammering me for months on end! I’ve told you I wish you well I don’t actually want you dead I don’t have a clue who you are and anyone else would say fair enough! I do wish you well Nath you know I didn’t know.’

Nathan Shapland: I’m not saying you knew just check your facts before kicking off

Shapland: ‘Don’t argue with your hero I guess.’

@ReeceDSport: I knew you was a waste of oxygen @TomPope69507931 but you’ve just reached a new level I didn’t think you could reach. Well done

Tom Pope: Awwwww all Nath’s school mates are jumping onboard haven’t you got homework to do?

@pvfctv2: @TomPope69507931 you should be ashamed of yourself you absolute fucking embarrassment of a human. Let’s hope nothing serious ever happens to you or your family, because believe me karma is a right fucking bitch and it’ll hit you reyt in the face son. Disgusting.

Pope replied: I told him put it on twitter and show everyone 👍🏼 some little gobshite for 2 years commenting on every single post I make trying to mug me off! I’ve warned him and warned him and warned him! You get back behind your phone with no harassment and find someone else have a go at 👍🏼

@pvfctv2: Maybe you could have just blocked him Tom instead of making gripes about his cancer treatment? It’s really not hard, is it?

Tom Pope: Oh so first his mums dead and then he’s got cancer? And I’m supposed to believe that? And IF he has actually got cancer then he should be spending more time with his family and friends instead of hammering me on twitter every day of the week! I hope he and his attitude recover 👍🏼

Nathan Shapland: Both true you should know given you were gonna learn everything about me

Tom Pope: Who’d of thought 5 minutes ago I was going kill you and now here I am hoping you get well soon it’s a small world isn’t it 😩😂 no seriously get well soon mate I’m not slapping a baldy 😩👍🏼

@ReeceDSport: May 16 You are 39 years old. You were a footballer, an icon to many and you are now a manager and this is what you do to people who disagree with you. You are a thug, a bully and deserve everything that Karma will bring to you one day

@pvfctv2: Put down the drink Tom, you’re embarrassing yourself😆

@pvfcalfie027: Vile stuff that hope your OK man

Nathan Shapland: Water of a ducks back. People deserved to know what sort of bloke he is. Please stop tagging his employer I don’t want the bloke to lose his job.

Twitter users reacted as Tom Pope desperately tries to explain his actions after threats made in an argument with a fan…

@ValleyFloydFred: You’re a nasty piece of work, losing your head like that and speaking to someone like that is never acceptable. Grow the fuck up.

@BUNF28: Your apology was “get well soon, I don’t want to slap a baldy”, doesn’t sound like you genuinely regret wishing death on a young cancer patient 👍

@pvfctv2: @TomPope69507931 you should be ashamed of yourself you absolute fucking embarrassment of a human. Let’s hope nothing serious ever happens to you or your family, because believe me karma is a right fucking bitch and it’ll hit you reyt in the face son. Disgusting.

@PVFC2022: All this because you disagree with him about how good Nathan Smith is at football 😂

@ChrisHilton83: Wow that is disgusting from @TomPope69507931 how on earth can anyone hope someone dies of cancer! A bit of an insight to what type of human being Tom is, should be ashamed of yourself

@PotterDave_: @OfficialKAFC you think this is acceptable from one of your players? It’s absolutely disgusting

@JP__267: “I didn’t know he did”, he told you? Proper thick c*nt you are

@StokieCooper_: Made yourself look a right nobhead. Imagine doing that to the fans who class you as a legend.

@bkwhufc: Backtrack now you silly bastard it doesn’t matter whether he has cancer or not how fucking dare you talk down to someone like that because you became a professional footballer 😂😂😂 never good enough to earn the money to retire so I hope you enjoy plumbing in your 50’s mate

@LeeLee101010101: Used to respect you as a Player and a Person now I just think your a bell end fucking disgusting behaviour that is