England star Ella Toone opens up about the loss of her father Nick, the driving force behind her career, and the void he leaves at her upcoming wedding.
Footballers are often viewed through the prism of their resilience, their ability to shake off a heavy challenge or recover from a cup final defeat. Yet, for Ella Toone, the most grueling test of her career occurred far away from the manicured turf of Wembley or the high-stakes pressure of Old Trafford. The Manchester United and England midfielder is currently navigating the heavy silence of a phone that no longer rings after a match — the silence left by her father, Nick, who passed away in September 2024, just three days before his 60th birthday. It is a loss that has fundamentally reshaped her perspective on the sport she loves and the life she is building away from the touchline.
Toone has long been the face of a new generation of Lionesses, known for her technical flair and the infectious energy she brings to the pitch. But behind the highlights and the trophies lay a profound bond with a man who was more than just a parent; he was her tactical sounding board, her most vocal supporter, and the person who saw a future for her in the game before it was even a viable professional path. As she prepares for her wedding this summer, the reality of his absence looms large. There will be an empty chair, a cap to mark his place, and a poignant reminder of the man who drove her across the country for years just to see her kick a ball.
The Post-Match Debrief That Defined a Career
For most players, the post-match routine involves ice baths, media duties, and recovery shakes. For Toone, it was always about the debrief. No matter the result, Nick and her mother, Karen, were constants in the stands. However, the real work began once Nick returned home. He was a man possessed by the details of the game, recording every match on television so he could watch it again in the quiet of his own house. Once he had finished his second viewing, he would pick up the phone. Those calls, which lasted for hours, were the heartbeat of Toone’s development, providing a raw and honest analysis of her performance that no coach could replicate.
Nick’s passion for the women’s game was not merely a byproduct of his daughter’s success. He became an evangelist for the sport, frequenting local pubs to talk about the quality of the WSL and the growth of the national team. Toone recalls that he often preferred the women’s game to the men’s, knowing the rosters and the tactical nuances of rival teams inside out. He was the driving force who recognized her potential early on, ensuring she had every opportunity to succeed. That shared obsession formed the foundation of their relationship, making the current silence of the post-match hours particularly deafening for the 25-year-old midfielder.
The Burden of Success Amid Secret Struggles
The timeline of Toone’s greatest sporting achievements is now inextricably linked to a series of personal blows. When she scored the iconic opening goal in the Euro 2022 final against Germany, she was unaware that her father had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In an act of selfless protection, Nick chose to keep his diagnosis a secret from his daughter, sharing the news only with his wife and brother so as not to distract Ella from the tournament of a lifetime. It was a weight he carried alone while watching her lift the trophy at a sold-out Wembley.
History repeated itself in a cruel fashion in May 2024. Only twenty-four hours after Toone helped Manchester United secure the FA Cup, she learned the full extent of her father’s illness. The pattern of triumph followed by tragedy has left a mark on her psyche, creating a feeling that every peak in her career is shadowed by an immediate valley. When Nick passed away in September, Toone was back on the training pitch the following morning. She felt a desperate need to play, to honor his work ethic, and to avoid the crushing weight of moping around the house. She started the season opener at Old Trafford, fueled by the belief that he would have wanted her exactly there, in the thick of the action.
The Physical Toll of Unprocessed Grief
Grief is rarely a linear process, and for a professional athlete, the body often reacts before the mind can catch up. After pushing through the initial weeks of the season, Toone hit a wall in November when a calf injury sidelined her. Looking back, she views the injury as a physical manifestation of her mental state — a forced intervention from her body that prevented a complete breakdown. It was during this two-month hiatus that she finally sought counseling and began to process the reality of her father’s death. The time away from the grass allowed her to step out of the "reliable athlete" persona she was trying to maintain for her family.
Her return to the pitch in January against West Brom was marked by a moment of pure catharsis. She unleashed a signature long-range strike into the top corner, a goal that was later voted the club's best of the campaign. As the ball hit the net, she pointed to the sky, a public acknowledgment of the man she now dedicates every goal to. The relief was palpable; for months, she had placed immense pressure on herself to score for him, often to the detriment of her own performance. That goal served as a release valve, allowing her to finally relax and find the joy in football again, knowing that his legacy was secure regardless of the scoreline.
Building a Legacy Through the ET7 Academy
The memory of Nick Toone is not just preserved in goals and trophies, but in the future of the girls' game. Alongside her fiance, former Bolton Wanderers player Joe Bunney, Toone has established the ET7 Academy. The project was a dream shared between Ella and her father, a way to provide young girls with the professional opportunities that were so scarce when she was starting out. Bunney, whose own playing career was curtailed by a serious car accident in 2019, has poured his energy into the academy, taking on the mantle of Nick’s vision as he transitioned out of the professional game.
Bunney describes Nick as his "bestie," a relationship that went far beyond the typical dynamic between a player and his partner's father. The academy has become a bridge between the couple’s shared grief and their desire to give back. When Toone visits the academy, the standards inevitably rise, but the underlying motivation remains rooted in Nick’s love for seeing young players develop. For Toone, the academy is a living tribute, a way to ensure that the man who took her up and down the country continues to influence the sport he loved so dearly. It is a source of immense pride for her, even as she balances the stresses of running a business with the demands of top-flight football.
The July Aisle and a Day Away from the Game
As her July wedding approaches, Toone is bracing for a day defined by mixed emotions. The planning process has been a journey through the "what-ifs" and the painful realizations of who will not be there to witness her walk down the aisle. She has asked her uncle Dan to take on the role of walking her to the altar, a decision that honors her family ties while acknowledging the void left by her father. The presence of her England teammate Alessia Russo as maid of honour ensures that her football family is represented, but Toone and Bunney are adamant that the day itself will be a break from the sport that dominates their lives.
A Wedding Without the Beautiful Game
Despite being a household name in the sport, Toone wants her wedding day to be about the person, not the player. Bunney has strictly banned any football-related songs, fearing a musical tug-of-war between United and City supporters among their families and friends. There is even a slight scheduling conflict, as the men’s World Cup could potentially see England playing on the day of the ceremony. While Toone admits her obsession with the game usually means she never misses a match, she is determined to keep the screens off. The focus remains on the empty chair, the cap, and the celebration of a life together that her father would have championed with every ounce of his competitive soul.
The journey through loss has matured Toone, shifting her from a player who merely wanted to win to one who understands the weight of being a pioneer. She is no longer just playing for points or medals; she is playing for a legacy that started on a rainy touchline with a father who believed she could be anything. As she steps into this new chapter of her life, she carries that belief with her, knowing that while the post-match phone calls have stopped, the influence of the man on the other end of the line will never fade. more football news on MATCHLINE
