Sport

Manchester United and Lionesses star Ella Toone is now officially an MBE

Has a nice ring to it.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 20th May 2026

Man United Women and Lionesses star Ella Toone is now officially an MBE after collecting the award this week.

The Greater Mancunian has grown to become one of the most influential female players of the modern era, and now her impact has been immortalised by the monarchy.

One of several Manc figures to have been named on the annual Honours List, including the Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, it was another great year for the region.

While multiple famous sporting faces featured on the most recent edition, Toone is one of the few to be named on behalf of association football.

Being recognised for services to the discipline on Tuesday, 19 May, the local athlete finally collected her accolade at Windsor Castle.

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Presented to her by Prince William, the Tyldesley-born attacker said in a statement: “It’s been amazing. It’s a bit of a pinch-me moment to be here and be honoured with an MBE.

“I never thought when I started out playing football I’d now be called Ella Toone MBE, so it’s a bit crazy.”

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Having suffered a tough time out with injury, the 26-year-old also insists she is now back feeling “better and stronger than ever.”

With Sarina Wiegman’s official squad selection for the qualifiers ahead of FIFA’s 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, she’s also looking forward to reuniting with her England teammates.

Here she is talking to Sky ahead of the games, not long after receiving the award:

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Speaking back in December, she confessed that it’s all been “a bit mad” for her ever since she learned of the news, but her worthiness speaks for itself.

Winning not only back-to-back Euros titles with the national side, along with the first-ever UEFA Women’s Finalissima trophy in 2023, but also inspiring young kids dreaming of becoming footballers across the country and beyond.

Congratulations once again, ‘Tooney’ – beyond well-deserved.

Across the city, it’s great to see yet more groundbreaking investment in the women’s game being made for generations to come.

Manchester City reveal new state-of-the-art women’s football facility

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Featured Images — Manchester United/Ella Toone (via Instagram)/James Boyes (via Flickr)

Sport

Manchester Storm have already set a new record before they’ve even returned ‘home’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Storm break season ticket sales record

Manchester Storm have already broken a record ahead of next season, and they’ve done it before they’ve even made it back to their original stadium.

Just goes to show that the ice hockey following here in Greater Manchester hasn’t gone anywhere.

Following the news that Manchester Storm will be returning to the city centre for the 2026/27 campaign, they’ve had a flood of interest from both new and old fans.

With that in mind, it didn’t take long for the native team to reveal that they have already set a new record for season ticket sales just a few weeks on from the announcement.

Sharing an update on social media, they write: “Manchester Storm supporters have delivered incredible demand for 2026/27 Season Tickets, with the club recording its highest-ever sales within the first week and the strongest total in its modern history.

“Thank you, Manchester, for your amazing support.”

Crediting ticketing partner StubHero for helping deliver “a smooth experience during this period of exceptional demand” for followers of the local outfit, they’re even set to give away the next milestone season ticket away completely FREE as part of the ‘homecoming’ celebrations.

Writing further in an official statement, they went on to add: “The move back to the AO Arena represents far more than just a change of venue or a return home…

“It marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for the club, built around bigger crowds, bigger occasions, and an unforgettable gameday experience in one of the UK’s premier entertainment venues.

Manchester Storm announce return to AO Arena after nearly two and a half decades
What we know so far.

Speaking in an interview with internal media, CEO and owner Emma Finnerty said that they’re not just aiming to grow their reputation in Britain: “Our vision is to become the biggest club in Europe.

“When you think of Manchester, you think of Manchester United and Manchester City – and then hopefully we’ll come third after them.”

While the former ‘Storm Shelter’ stadium at Planet Ice Altrincham only held a maximum of 2,500 spectators, serving them more than faithfully over the past decade or so, the AO Arena can literally hold almost ten times that amount. Here’s hoping they get close to full week in and week out.

As hockey fandom continues to grow across the UK, it feels like a better time than ever for supporters to get involved with the sport – and, as ever, they’re keen to get people as involved as possible.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Publicity pictures (via Manchester Storm)

Sport

Erling Haaland is set to make his acting debut later this year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Erling Haaland making voice acting debut in animated film about vikings

Manchester City star Erling Haaland is set to make his debut film appearance later this year in his first proper voice acting job as part of an animated movie.

Let’s just say our obsessive countdown until the release date starts NOW.

The Premier League player and sporting superstar has obviously featured on camera plenty since bursting onto the scene – not least of all for his own YouTube channel – but this will be new territory for the Norwegian.

Rather fittingly for the Scandinavian striker, he’s not only playing a Viking character in the upcoming animation, ViQueens, but he’s also basically set to play a version of himself.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, the new film by fellow compatriot and director, Harald Zwart, who is best known for the likes of Agent Cody Banks, the 2010 Karate Kid reboot, and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

He also directed comedian Steve Martin’s second outing as The Pink Panther, so it’s safe to say he’s got a funny bone or two.

That being said, it feels like the 25-year-old will be able to have some fun with this script, in which he is set to play a Viking of the same name – because of course he is.

While it’s still yet to be revealed as to just how big a role he will have in the feature film set to arrive this winter, what we know so far is that the film is an action-comedy adventure revolving around a “world of fearless warrior girls, icy fjords, and Silk Road mythology.”

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t even the first time we’ve seen a cartoon version of Erling Haaland brought to life, as he also popped up in the world of gaming a little while back.

Manchester City star Erling Haaland is now a playable character in Clash of Clans mobile game
The career of a top footballer really can be a crazy one, can’t it?

Speaking on the film, director and co-writer Zwart told the outlet: “As a Norwegian storyteller making a Viking adventure for a global audience, having Erling Haaland join ViQueens feels incredibly exciting.

“Erling has already become a kind of real-life Viking icon around the world – powerful, fearless, and uniquely Norwegian. Bringing him into this universe as himself gives the film an unexpected energy and authenticity that felt completely right for this story.”

Other famous faces set to star in the animation, which is set to release this December, include singer-turned-actor Rita Ora and Ella Purnell (Fallout, Arcane, Sweetpea), who are starring as the two lead characters and voice actors.

You can see the trailer down below.

What do you make of this teaser for the movie?

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Featured Images — ViQueens/IMDb/Michael Emilio (via Wikimedia Commons)

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