A Heartfelt Tribute to Her Father

In an emotional new letter shared through The Players Tribune, Manchester United forward Ella Toone opens up about the devastating loss of her father, Nick, who passed away from cancer last September. Just days before his 60th birthday, Ella lost the man who had a huge impact on her life, and she now reflects on her grief and how it’s been a journey of trying to process everything.

She writes, “I’m still processing, but I wanted to write this for anyone grieving and feeling alone.”

This marks the first time Toone has publicly addressed the heartbreaking loss, revealing the raw and ongoing pain of losing her dad.

Dealing with Loss and the Lingering Pain

“To be honest, the past few months have been about trying to figure it out,” Toone confesses.

“It’s still raw.

I still feel the pain, the gut-wrenching reality of not having him around anymore.

” Despite the triumphs in her professional life, like scoring in the 2022 Euros final, the loss of her father has left an undeniable hole in her life.

The 25-year-old forward remembers the difficult time when her father, Nick, was diagnosed with prostate cancer just after her Euro 2022 win.

“The day after we won the Euros, he told me he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He’d fought it for a year without telling us, but then it came back, and it was worse.

He didn’t want to let on how bad it was, though,” she shares, reflecting on how she struggled to get him to open up about the severity of his condition.

A Father’s Influence on Her Career

Despite the pain of his illness, Ella treasures the memories of how her father supported her budding career in football.

Nick’s encouragement played a key role in her early love for the sport, even offering her £10 for every goal she scored in the beginning stages of her journey.

“He said, ‘Every goal you score, I’ll give you a tenner.

‘ Being competitive, I was all in,” Toone laughs as she recalls.

“I ended up scoring all 10 goals in one game.

I think my prize money went down a bit after that!”

This playful exchange was just one of many moments that solidified the bond between father and daughter, with Nick instilling in her a fierce competitive spirit that still drives her today.

Finding Strength in Her Teammates

Through all the pain, Ella has found support in her fellow Lionesses, particularly teammates Beth Mead and Rachel Daly, both of whom have also experienced the loss of a parent.

“When people ask, ‘Who do you look up to?’ I now say it’s people like Beth and Rach, who’ve kept playing football and inspiring others after losing someone they loved,” Toone explains.

“They’ve been a huge help to me, and I hope I can do the same for others in the future.”

Ella’s journey of loss and recovery is a powerful reminder of the strength we can find in the people around us, and how those who have experienced similar pain can help guide us through the toughest times.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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