Ella Toone, a mainstay of the England women's side and Manchester United's midfield, is gearing up for a wedding that will be both a personal milestone and a poignant tribute.
The celebration will be tinged with absence; her father, Nick Toone, who died suddenly in September 2024, will not be present to walk her down the aisle.
Nick, a devoted supporter who shaped Ella's early love for the game, passed away just three days before his 60th birthday, leaving a void that the midfielder feels deeply.
In the months since his death, Toone has marked each goal with a silent dedication, a habit that began after she scored her first post‑loss strike in January 2024.
A calf injury forced her to step away from the pitch, giving her space to process grief while still nurturing a project close to her father's heart.
A Father's Dream Lives On
Together with her fiancé, Joe Bunney, Toone launched the ET7 Academy, a girls' football initiative that aims to provide pathways for young players across the country.
The academy is more than a training ground; it is a living memorial to Nick's vision of a world where girls can chase football dreams without barriers.
Toone says the upcoming wedding will feature an empty chair, a quiet reminder that while the day will be filled with love, it will also carry the weight of memory.
She hopes to keep the ceremony away from the glare of the sport, focusing instead on personal moments that honor both her family and the future she is building.