Ella Toone: Lionesses and Man Utd Midfielder on Grief and Wedding Plans

There will be an empty chair at Ella Toone's wedding this summer. The England and Manchester United midfielder is preparing to walk down the aisle without her dad, Nick—who she dedicates every goal to and credits as the "main reason" for her career. In the new BBC documentary, *24 Hours with Ella Toone*, she discusses her grief and how she navigates it as a professional athlete while ensuring her father's legacy helps the next generation. Toone recalls that after every match, she would receive a phone call from Nick. He and her mother, Karen, would always attend her games, with Nick recording them to debrief with her afterward. "He was just obsessed," the 26-year-old shared. "He loved women's football more than he loved watching the men's game. He knew all the players and was passionate about my career." Nick was a pivotal figure in Toone's football journey, driving her to matches across the country and supporting her during England games. "Me and dad were all about football; that was our thing together," she said. After scoring in England's 2-1 victory over Germany in the 2022 European Championship final, Toone was unaware that Nick had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a fact he kept from her to avoid worrying her. The day after her Manchester United team won the FA Cup final in May 2024, Toone learned of her father's illness. Nick passed away just days before his 60th birthday, and Toone returned to training the very next day. "I knew that’s what he would have wanted," she stated. However, she admits she wasn't truly processing her grief until a calf injury forced her to take time off. During her recovery, she sought counseling and took a holiday in Dubai, which allowed her to begin healing. Toone made her return for Manchester United's 7-0 FA Cup win over West Brom in January, scoring a stunning goal and dedicating it to her father. "Every goal I score now, I dedicate to dad, but that one felt like a relief," she explained. The enforced break had also given her family time to process their own grief, as match days had always been their time with Nick. Her fiancé, Joe Bunney, has been a significant support during this challenging time. They launched the ET7 Academy, fulfilling a dream of Nick's to create a girls' football academy. "Nick absolutely loved it, seeing these young girls play football. It was almost like he was reliving Ella's life again," Bunney remarked. As Toone prepares for her July wedding, she acknowledges the mix of emotions she'll face. She has asked her uncle Dan to walk her down the aisle and will honor her father's memory by placing a cap on his empty chair. Despite the presence of numerous footballers, Toone aims to keep the day away from football-related themes. "Anything related to football songs is banned," Bunney stated. As the wedding date approaches, Toone hopes that the men's World Cup matches will not overshadow her special day. "I am obsessed with football, but I don’t think I’ll be watching it on my wedding day," she concluded. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can visit BBC Action Line. --- ## Related Articles 1. [BBC Releases Documentary on Ella Toone's Personal Journey](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/bbc-releases-documentary-on-ella-toones-personal-journey) 2. [Wales Misses Chance in Women's World Cup Qualifiers](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/wales-misses-chance-in-womens-world-cup-qualifiers) 3. [Laura Freigang podría enfrentar una suspensión: NADA confirma irregularidades](https://golazopro.com/es/news/laura-freigang-podria-enfrentar-una-suspension-nada-confirma-irregularidades)

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