Ella Toone surprises inspirational United coach
Ella Toone recently took time out of her busy football schedule to visit the Manchester United Foundation and one of her childhood inspirations, Emma Fletcher.
Sadly, Emma has Huntington’s disease, which is limiting her ability to work, but she still commits her life to developing young girls and grassroots football in Manchester.
Last week, Ella paid a visit to the Foundation to surprise Emma - revealing that the girls’ Academy Player of the Year award, from now onwards, would be named in her honour.
A heart-warming visit from Tooney
Watch as Ella Toone surprises an inspirational United coach to deliver some very special news...
Huntington's disease is an inherited condition that damages nerve cells in the brain, causing them to stop working properly.
The damage to the brain gets worse over time, and it can affect movement, cognition and mental health.
Emma has an early onset of the disease, which typically starts affecting adults between the age of 30 and 50.
It is a hereditary disease, but the signs of inheriting do not appear until you are at least 18 years of age. Despite all this Emma continues to work for the Foundation in the job she adores.
“I think I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world,” Emma told us after her recent surprise from Ella.
“We’ve got the best girls’ development programme, I’d say in the world now, I’d go as far as saying that. I’m really, really proud.
“I’m just blown away, can’t believe it. It’s an unbelievable surprise.”
ELLA & EMMA’s PATHS CROSS AGAIN
Manchester United’s girls’ Academy is run by our Foundation. After the women’s team was disbanded in 2005, and in the years between the launch of the current team in 2018, Emma was a driving force in keeping a semblance of women’s football alive at the club.
Through those years, the likes of Toone, captain Katie Zelem and Millie Turner were all nurtured by Emma and co in our youth ranks.
“Right from the very start, since I was six or seven years old, she’s always been there, she’s always believed in me, she’s always pushed me,” Toone said, explaining the support she’s received from Fletcher.
“For me, Emma’s always wanted the best for everyone she’s worked with and that was fighting for a Manchester United women’s team.
“So she was very vocal about that and has been a big part of the journey and the history of the club.”
A well-trodden path for elite youngsters at the RTC, Ella left Manchester United when she hit 17, turning out for Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers before returning to Casey Stoney’s squad when the team reformed in 2018.
Now an established member of both the England and Manchester United teams, the Lioness has kept up her close ties with the Foundation, as it continues to create talent like recent graduates Safia Middleton-Patel and Jess Simpson.
Emma and Ella have kept in touch, and Emma’s daughter Phebe is a huge fan of United Women's no.7.
THE EMMA FLETCHER AWARD
As of this season, the girls’ Academy Player of the Year prize will be named in Emma’s honour, to celebrate the 22 years of dedication the coach has put into women’s football at the club.
Recently the girls’ Academy has been hailed as one of the best in the world, indeed only a few weeks ago both the U21 and U16 reached respective Youth Cup finals, and last season the girls matched the boys by lifting the trophy.
The success of the girls’ Academy has been due to the passion, dedication and commitment of coaches and staff like Emma, and for this, we cannot thank her enough.
Emma supports the Huntington’s Disease Association and you can donate to help them here.