Lionesses star Ella Toone's heartbreaking inspiration for Euro 2025 glory
England midfielder Ella Toone was playing in memory of her late father as she helped the Lionesses win another European Championship. Nick Toone was diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after he watched Ella score in the 2022 final, as England beat Germany 2-1 at Wembley.
In September of last year, Nick died three days short of his 60th birthday. "For the past few months, I've been trying to figure it all out, trying to get unstuck," Ella wrote for the Players' Tribune in January.
"It's still raw. I still feel the pain digging in, the gutting feeling of not having him here anymore."
The Manchester United vice-captain continues to be inspired by her dad and topped off her most challenging season yet with another international trophy. Toone started all but one of England's matches on their way to the final and produced another lung-busting display against Spain.
She was replaced by Beth Mead in the 87th minute, as the Lionesses dug in and took the game to extra-time and penalties before getting their hands on the trophy for the second time in three years. Post-match, Toone shared two emotional Instagram stories and revealed that her mum had been sat next to a spare seat at the final in Basel, Switzerland.
"Spare seat next to my mum tonight," she wrote alongside an image of the seat. "If that's not a sign I don't know what is. I know you were there Dad. Love you cock."
Toone also posted a selfie with Mead - who lost her mum, Jane, to ovarian cancer in January 2023 - with the caption: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us & forever proud."
Who was your Player of the Tournament for England? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
One of Ella's aunties, Tracy Haslam, told the BBC ahead of the tournament: "He went to all the away games, he went to the World Cup [in 2023]. He used to be right by her side all the time when it came to a football.
"It's just a bit harder now her dad's not here. There's a lot of firsts when you lose someone close. It's quite hard for when she plays a game, you can see it sometimes, that she misses him."
Nick will be proudly looking down on Ella, who scored two goals and provided two assists during England's successful campaign. She also helped United finish third in the Women's Super League last season, having been at the club since they turned professional in 2018.
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