Ella Toone Navigates Grief and Future Joys in Revealing BBC Documentary

TITLE: Ella Toone Navigates Grief and Future Joys in Revealing BBC Documentary
SLUG: ella-toone-grief-football-wedding-documentary
EXCERPT: England and Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone opens up about the profound impact of her father's death, finding solace and purpose in football, and preparing for her wedding in a new BBC documentary.
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Ella Toone, England Women, Manchester United, Grief, Football, BBC Sport, Wedding, Joe Bunney, ET7 Academy, Prostate Cancer
SEO_TITLE: Ella Toone on Grief, Football, and Wedding After Father's Death
SEO_DESCRIPTION: England and Manchester United star Ella Toone shares her journey of loss, resilience through football, and joy in anticipating her wedding in a candid BBC documentary.
MEDIA_QUERY: Ella Toone celebrating a goal, Ella Toone with her fiancé Joe Bunney, Ella Toone looking determined on the pitch
IMAGE_ALT: England and Manchester United footballer Ella Toone in action during a match

England and Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone is offering an intimate look into her life in a new BBC documentary, "24 Hours with Ella Toone." The film delves into her personal journey of grief following the death of her father, Nick, in September 2024. It explores how football has served as both a source of strength and a challenging arena as she navigates this profound loss, all while preparing for her upcoming wedding.

Key facts

Source: BBC Sport Football
Date: 2026-05-26T06:00:08+00:00
Topic: How Toone is navigating grief through football

A Father's Influence on and off the Pitch

Ella Toone's father, Nick, was a constant presence in her footballing life. She describes him as the "main reason" for her success, crediting him as the driving force behind her career. Every goal Toone scores is dedicated to her dad, a ritual born from his unwavering support. He was not just a spectator; Nick would meticulously record her matches on television, offering detailed "debriefs on the whole game" in passionate phone calls. Toone recalls his deep love for women's football, noting that he "loved women's football more than he loved watching the men's game" and would enthusiastically discuss players and matches in any pub he entered. His dedication extended to travelling across the country for her club games and abroad for England fixtures, solidifying football as their shared passion. "Me and dad were all about football, that was our thing that we had together," Toone revealed, emphasizing that he was "probably one of the first people that really saw potential in me."

Navigating the Shadow of Grief

The documentary reveals the heartbreaking timing of Nick Toone's diagnosis. The day after Ella scored in England's 2-1 victory over Germany in the 2022 European Championship final, her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had chosen not to disclose his illness to most, wanting to spare his daughter and others worry. Toone now understands that he was unwell throughout the tournament, a fact that has become clearer since his passing. The full extent of his illness only came to light for Toone the day after her Manchester United team won the FA Cup final in May 2024. This pattern of significant personal achievement being followed by devastating news has left a mark on her. Nick Toone passed away in September 2024, just three days before his 60th birthday and five days after Ella's 25th birthday.

Returning to the Game

Despite the immense personal loss, Toone returned to training the day after her father's funeral, driven by the conviction that it was what he would have wanted. She played in the first game at Old Trafford, describing it as "really difficult" but necessary for her to process her grief. "I needed to play, I couldn't just be sat around moping about, thinking about it all the time. I knew he would have been there and been watching," she stated. However, she admits that she wasn't truly processing her grief during this period.

Finding Solace and a Path Forward

It was a calf injury in November 2024 that finally forced Toone to step back and confront her emotions. "I think it was my body telling me to stop before I would have had a mental breakdown," she reflected. During her two-month break from football, she sought professional help, seeing a counsellor and taking a holiday to Dubai. Upon her return in January 2025, Toone scored a spectacular long-range goal in Manchester United's 7-0 FA Cup win. This goal, which she later voted her team's goal of the season, was her first since her father's death, and she dedicated it to him with a pointed gesture to the sky. "Obviously every goal I score now, I dedicate to dad but that just felt like a relief," she explained. She acknowledged the immense pressure she had placed on herself in the initial months of playing, wanting to score for him and not allowing herself to relax and enjoy the game. The enforced break also provided a much-needed respite for her wider family and friends, for whom matchdays had always represented "their time with dad."

A Lasting Legacy and Future Hopes

Ella Toone's fiancé, Joe Bunney, has been an unwavering support throughout this challenging period. A former professional footballer himself, Bunney has been a "rock" for Toone and her family, managing his own grief for Nick, whom he described as his "bestie." Together, they are carrying forward Nick Toone's dream of establishing a girls' football academy. Bunney, whose own playing career was impacted by injuries, has fully committed to building the ET7 Academy. "Nick absolutely loved it, seeing these young girls come through and playing football. It was almost like he was reliving Ella's life again," Bunney shared, noting that the academy has become a significant part of Nick's legacy. Toone is immensely proud of Bunney's dedication, recognizing his sacrifices. The academy, despite its stresses, has brought them closer.

Wedding Bells Amidst Mixed Emotions

Looking ahead, Toone is preparing for her July wedding. While she had previously told Bunney she would never marry or have children after her father's passing, she now reflects on how much her dad would have wanted her to experience these milestones. Her uncle Dan will walk her down the aisle, and a cap will be placed on her father's intended chair. Despite the presence of numerous footballers, including her maid of honour and England teammate Alessia Russo, Toone is determined to keep the day focused away from football. Bunney confirmed that "Anything related to football songs is banned," humorously adding that any attempts by family to sing United songs or his friends to sing City songs would be disallowed. The documentary captures Toone's complex emotional landscape as she balances profound grief with the anticipation of future happiness, honoring her father's memory while embracing life's next chapter.

What remains unclear

The specific details of the men's World Cup schedule and whether a match might coincide with Ella Toone's wedding day remain to be confirmed. The exact nature of the "pioneer for women's football" role Toone is embracing for the next generation is also not fully elaborated upon in the provided context.

Summary of Key Information

• Father's Passing: Nick Toone died in September 2024 after prostate cancer diagnosis. | BBC Sport Football report. | Explains Toone's grief and dedication to her father.
• Football's Role: Provided solace during grief, but also immense pressure initially. | Toone's statements in the documentary. | Highlights resilience and coping mechanisms.
• Wedding Plans: To take place in July, with uncle walking her down the aisle. | BBC Sport Football report. | Demonstrates moving forward and embracing joy.
• ET7 Academy: Co-founded with fiancé Joe Bunney, continuing father's legacy. | BBC Sport Football report, Bunney's comments. | Shows commitment to future generations in women's football.
• Mental Health: Toone sought counselling during an injury-enforced break. | Toone's statements in the documentary. | Emphasizes the importance of mental well-being.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3e2dg875x7o