UEFA Women's EURO 2025: England's Beth Mead and Ella Toone find strength in new bond after losing parents to cancer

Beth Mead and Ella Toone are top players for England at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. But there is more that connects the two women than a love of football and the national jersey.

Both have lost parents to cancer since winning the last edition of the tournament in 2022. Mead’s mother June passed away to ovarian cancer in January 2023 while Toone’s father passed away in September 2024 after a fight with prostate cancer.

As each grieved their loss, the teammates discovered new strength through their growing bond.

"We have really bonded over such a terrible thing but it's nice to have someone who has been through it as well and who understands and knows exactly what is going on and what is going on in my head," Toone said of her teammate, ESPN reported from a post-match press conference in St. Gallen, Switzerland.

"We definitely have each other's backs. We are proud of each other and it's nice we are constantly talking about them. It's nice to have someone in the same situation and we know we are doing them proud."

The 2022 European champions Mead and Toone struggled in England's opening match against France. The players were used to seeing their parents in the stands at major tournaments, but this time the familiar faces were not there. Sharing that moment and sense of loss helped them to move forward, Mead said.

Mead and Toone celebrated England's 6-1 victory over Wales on Sunday, 13 July, by pointing to the sky in tribute to their parents.

"I've been a shoulder to be there for her," Mead said after the match in which she and Toone scored a goal each. "There have been moments where she has asked, 'Is this normal? Does that feel normal? Why am I thinking this?' I'm like, 'It's completely normal. I've been there and I still feel it now'.

"We have conversations about it and talk so easy about it but ultimately I've had a bit longer to process it compared to her. We all deal with it differently but she is dealing with it pretty amazingly now."

The victory against Wales earned England a ticket to the quarter-finals where they will face the 1984 European champions Sweden.

Toone has two goals and two assists in the tournament so far while Mead has one goal and one assist.

Click here to read article