Reds rally behind Toone as she shares her Dad’s story

Reds rally behind Toone as she shares her Dad’s story

Manchester United Women midfielder Ella Toone has opened up about the recent loss of her father by writing an incredibly touching first-person piece on The Players’ Tribune.

You can read the full tribute here, in which Ella puts into words the close relationship that she had with her Dad, Nick, who sadly passed away in September last year.

“This is my first try at really talking about it,” United Women’s no.7 says in the candid article. “But I wanted to write this, for anyone grieving and feeling alone.”

Ella begins by taking us back to her childhood and, over the course of the story, goes on to paint a picture of the significant role that her Dad had in making her the player and person that she is today.

She recalls side-by-side car journeys to training with our Academy, the pride he felt at seeing his daughter play for club and country at the highest level, and how she could always hear his instantly recognisable shouts of ‘Come on, United!’ from the sidelines.

Bravely, Tooney also details how she was told about her father’s cancer diagnosis after winning the FA Cup in May, and how she left United’s pre-season trip to Marbella and spent his final days with him in hospital.

It goes without saying how incredibly proud everyone at United is of Ella and, as you can expect, she has received an outpouring of love since the article was first shared on Tuesday.

Among those to have reached out via Instagram is our men’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, who commented on The Players’ Tribune’s post: “We’re all with you Ella. Your Dad would be so proud of the person that you are and he will be cheering for you every step of the way ❤️”

Toone’s United Women team-mates Gabby George and Melvine Malard are among those to have also shared their support on social media, alongside several of her former Reds colleagues and fellow members of the footballing community….

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