20 Questions with Ella Toone

1) What’s your earliest memory? 
My earliest memory is going down the local football club with my dad, just playing on the side of the pitch for hours and hours with all my cousins and my lad mates growing up. Just being around the football pitch, watching the football and playing at the side until we got dragged home.

2) If you could go back in time, would you? And where to? 
O what a question! No, I don't think I would go back in time because I like looking forward and being in the moment and living in the moment. I'm happy with everything I've done in the past and just want to keep on making memories.

3) What do you like most about yourself? 
These questions are hard! What I like most about myself is that I'm quite sociable. I want to have fun and have a laugh with my mates, and I don't take myself too seriously.

4)  What's your biggest achievement? (Ella was speaking prior to England Women’s EURO win)
My biggest achievement is probably making my Lionesses debut. It's definitely one of my proudest moments and something that I always grew up wanting to achieve. To finally do that was amazing and something I will never forget.

5)  What’s your worst habit? 
My worst habit is getting wound up easily and biting too easily, I think people would say that. So being a bit of a stresshead.

6)  What makes you most angry? 
A lot of things. Losing. Definitely losing. When we are doing small-sided games, people can’t speak to me if we have lost. Or even a game of table tennis. I just hate losing. I think it's because I'm so competitive.

7)  Who is your biggest influence? 
Growing up, it was always Cristiano Ronaldo. I used to watch him all the time and would watch him on my laptop. I would go in the garden and try to practice his skills and would always wear the number seven and have his boots. Growing up, watching him achieve what he's achieved has always driven me to try and do the same.

8) How do you react under pressure? 
I react quite well under pressure. When it is big moments, I just always feel like it's football, it's what we live for and it's what we do every single day and it's never any different. You have to just go out and try to enjoy the moment and if you feel the pressure, look to thrive off the pressure.

9)  When do you feel most at ease? 
On the football pitch, definitely. All my problems go away when I step out onto the pitch and I enjoy and love what I do.

10)  What do you dream about when you sleep? 
I dream about winning trophies, playing for England, scoring for England. Just a lot of football dreams and things that I want to keep achieving.

11)  Favourite phrase or word? 
I always say 'live life and do what makes you happy.' Those are the two things that I live by.

12)  What reminds you of home? 
I’m never away from home to be honest! Good food because my mum always cooks nice meals, so whenever there's any good food around, I always think this reminds me of my mom's cooking.

13)  Are you superstitious about anything? 
Yes, I have superstitions on a game day. I sing a chant the morning of a game and I always wear the same sports bra and knickers for games. Just little ones like that. The chant is a United chant. So on the morning of a United game, I would always sing the same chant.

14)  What makes you cry? 
Facebook videos of people who haven't seen their mums or dads for ages because they've been in the army or whatever, and then they meet up. I'm just crying in bed to myself, and then I can't stop watching them!

15)  One song that makes me feel good? 
My favourite song is Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Whenever it comes on, I can never turn it off and I always have a good sing-along to that. So I would definitely say that one.

Meanwhile in Australia...😍 🦘@ellatoone99 pic.twitter.com/BViOl20xG4

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 17, 2023

16)  Biggest obstacle? 
When I turned 18, I was playing for Man City and I didn't get offered a contract and that was really tough at the time. But I always look back on that and think it made me who I am now. It taught me a lot of things, like you don’t get things handed on a plate and you have to work hard to get them. Looking back on that now, I am glad it happened and it has shaped me into who I am now.

17)  Favourite place in the world? 
Home. Tyldesley. I don't think I'll ever leave. I just love it, love the people and the community and everything about it. That is where I have grown up and who I am. That is my favourite place in the world. To be fair, I like Ibiza as well! 

18)  Most valuable possession? 
Probably my shoes! I'm obsessed with trainers.

19)  Worst fear? 
It's actually quite deep but disappointing people. That is really scary. I also don't like bananas. They scare me too. I don’t know where that came from. The girls on England camps when we were younger, knew I hated bananas so they would hide them in my bed and it used to really scare me! I’m not as scared anymore though.

20)  How would you like to be remembered? 
As someone who was a good role model to young girls and boys growing up. And on the pitch, someone who always worked hard, gave everything for the badge they were playing for, and someone who was brave, tried to do things and played exciting football.