The football community is in mourning following the tragic death of Macclesfield FC forward Ethan McLeod. The 21-year-old died in a car accident on the M1 motorway while returning from an away fixture.
A Tragic Journey Home
The fatal incident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, 16 December 2025. McLeod was travelling back to Cheshire after playing for Macclesfield in a National League North match against Bedford Town in Bedfordshire. The exact circumstances of the collision on the M1 have not been disclosed.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Ethan McLeod was a talented young striker who had joined Macclesfield FC in July 2025 after impressing on trial. His football journey began much earlier, having spent ten formative years in the academy of Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left Wolves in September 2024 and went on to have spells at non-league clubs Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge during the 2024/25 season.
He made his competitive debut for Macclesfield in a league game against Chorley in September 2025 and had made a promising start, scoring two goals in just four appearances for the club.
Heartfelt Tributes from the Football World
Macclesfield FC led the tributes, releasing an emotional statement describing McLeod as an "incredibly talented" member of the squad with an "infectious personality". The club said his death had "devastated our entire club" and that his "unique smile that mesmerised us all will never be forgotten". They ended their tribute by stating, "May you rest in peace Ethan - you will forever be a Silkman."
His former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, expressed they were "heartbroken" by the news. The club announced they would hold a minute's silence before their Premier League match against Brentford on Saturday. Wolves also noted that McLeod's younger brother, Conor, is currently in their under-21 squad and pledged full support to the family.
Rushall Olympic paid their own respects, highlighting McLeod's role as a "history-maker" for their club. He scored the winning penalty in an FA Cup qualifying round against Peterborough Sports the previous season, a moment they said would be "etched into the history books of our club forever".
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) also posted a message on social media, sending thoughts to McLeod's "family, friends, teammates and loved ones".
The loss of such a young and promising talent has sent shockwaves through the National League North and the wider football family, with fans and clubs uniting in grief.
