The Unbreakable Bond Between Father and Daughter
For Ella Toone, football was never just a game—it was the thread that tied her to her father, Nick. The Manchester United and England midfielder grew up with a dad who, by her own account, was "obsessed" with the women's game. Nick would travel the length of the country for club matches and abroad for international fixtures, record every game to rewatch later, and then call for meticulous debriefs.
"He was just obsessed. He loved women's football more than he loved watching the men's game. He knew all the players, he was passionate about where I was in my career, the team that I had, the way we were playing. He would go into any pub and talk about women's football and talk about me."
The 26-year-old credits Nick as the "main reason" for her success, recalling: "He was probably one of the first people that really saw potential in me." But this summer, as Toone plans her wedding, there will be an empty chair—a stark reminder of the man she dedicates every goal to.
The Secret Struggle Behind the Glory
The defining moment of Toone's career—scoring for England in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final win over Germany at Wembley—was shadowed by a hidden crisis. The following day, Nick was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he told only his wife and brother. "He didn't want anyone worrying about him," Toone explains. She only discovered the truth after Manchester United lifted the Women's FA Cup at Wembley in May 2024, a pattern that now haunts her: "I feel like every time I won something, something bad came after." Nick passed away in September 2024, just three days before his 60th birthday and five days after Toone turned 25.
Pushing Through Pain—and the Body's Limits
"I went straight back into football because I knew that's what he would have wanted."
Toone returned to training the day after her father's death and started at Old Trafford soon after. She admits she was not processing her grief, instead channelling everything into performance. "I was putting on so much pressure on myself. I wanted to score for him. I wasn't letting myself relax and enjoy the game, I was trying to be the person that my family could rely on, on the pitch." A calf injury in November 2024 forced her out of action, and she now recognises it as a turning point: "I think it was my body telling me to stop before I would have had a mental breakdown." The enforced break allowed her to see a counsellor, take a holiday, and finally allow herself to grieve properly.
A Goal to Make Dad Proud
When Toone returned in January against West Brom in the Women's FA Cup, she marked the occasion with a stunning long-range strike that was later voted Manchester United's goal of the season. Pointing to the heavens, she dedicated it to Nick. "Obviously every goal I score now, I dedicate to dad but that just felt like a relief," she recalls. The moment lifted a weight, letting her play with more freedom. "The first few months of playing, I was trying to be the person my family could rely on. Now I know he'd just want me to be happy."
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Toone is determined that her father's pioneering passion for women's football will live on. The BBC documentary shows her working with young players, passing on the same belief Nick once had in her. "He would go into any pub and talk about women's football and talk about me," she says. "I want to be that voice for others now." By speaking openly about her own struggles, Toone is also becoming a powerful advocate for mental health in sport—proving that grief and greatness can coexist, and that the most important victories happen off the pitch. As she prepares to walk down the aisle this summer, the absence of the man who believed in her first will be palpable, but she carries his spirit in every training session and match.
Key Takeaways
- Ella Toone's father, Nick, was instrumental in her football career, but died from prostate cancer in September 2024.
- Nick hid his diagnosis for two years, only revealing it after Toone's FA Cup win in 2024; she says every trophy came with a personal blow.
- Toone initially suppressed her grief by throwing herself into football, but a calf injury forced her to stop and seek counselling.
- Her first goal after returning was an emotional long-range effort dedicated to her father, easing the pressure she had been carrying.
- Now she focuses on honouring his legacy by mentoring young players and championing mental health awareness in football.
Quick Facts
Player: Ella Toone
Clubs: Manchester United Women, England Women
Father: Nick Toone
Cause: Prostate cancer
Key Honours: UEFA Women's Euro 2022, Women's FA Cup 2024
Documentary: 24 Hours with Ella Toone (BBC Sport)