Here’s a story that will be retold many times over the years. Ella Toone was just a baby when she discovered the beautiful game in 1999 near Manchester; the same footballer who went on to be the England’s first goalscorer in the Euro 2022 final win over Germany.
But how could baby Ella have been interested in football? Here’s how… While answering a call to play for Hindsford AFC, Ella’s dad Nick said he needed to look after his newborn daughter. Moments later he was on the pitch and Ella’s fate was sealed.
“The ball went really high up in the air and landed on me and the pram went over,” Manchester United forward Ella told LK. “I was crying and my mum was going mad because I had a stain on my dress. Dad always says that was the day I decided to play football.”
Hindsford’s club secretary Darren Briggs felt that Ella’s “fearless” nature was the key to unlocking her potential as a future footballer. He said: “Her talent shone through because of how competitive she was with the boys. She always had skills that were probably better than some of the lads, she had something about her.”
Ella’s next step was to form part of the first ever girls’ team at Astley & Tyldesley Football Club in Manchester where, aged five, she pulled on a pair of boots and bagged quite a few of her first goals.
“Ella was so good that she stood out like a sore thumb. Our strategy was to always get the ball to Ella. When we won the league, she scored about 40 goals in one season,” said co-founder of Astley & Tyldesley, Lee Plover. All that practice and ruthlessness in front of the goal paid dividends for Ella, who on 31 July 2022, seven minutes after coming onto the Wembley turf as a substitute, raced clear of the German defence and lofted the ball past keeper Merle Frohms to send a wave of euphoria through the nation.
The ball went really high up in the air and landed on my and the pram went over
In tune with her roots
Eleven days earlier, 20 minutes after coming on a substitute, it was Ella’s 84th minute equaliser against Spain that kept England in the tournament as they came from behind to win their quarter-final 2-1 in extra time.
Those are the sorts of goals that kids remember. And the sorts of goals that not only inspire but also promote change.
“Once the Euros started, there was such a buzz because Ella’s a local girl and the fact that she scored some significant goals just heightened that excitement,” said Astley & Tyldesley Girls Development Officer Lorraine Warwick-Ellis. “Because of that, we’ve now got 13 girls’ teams and the uptake has been unbelievable.”
That day at Hindsford AFC in 1999 was a huge step for Ella, who still heads down to lend her support from the touchlines if she doesn’t have an away game in the FA Women’s Super League (FAWSL). Ella’s name now adorns a pitch sign to a £7.6million investment in Wigan by the Premier League, Football Foundation and The FA: the William Fosters Hub in Ince.
Due to open this summer, the site has brought in two full-sized 3G pitches and a changing pavilion. “Nine times out of ten, better pitches produce better footballers, so it’s really important that the Football Foundation supports grassroots clubs like ours to develop our facilities,” said Lee.
It’s not always about the pitch though. Just by turning up, you too could change your mindset forever. Head to Astley & Tyldesley’s Facebook page and you’ll see an advert for women aged 18-34 to play in the club’s first open ages women’s team. Wednesday evenings might never be the same again.
