Ethan Lucius McLeod was the first-born son to Leroy and Sheryle, born in Birmingham in 2004. He had the full attention of his Mom and Dad for 18 months, until his baby brother Conor arrived and the brotherly bond began. From the very start, the two were like chalk and cheese in every way, but that didn’t stop them. They were as thick as thieves, wrapping Leroy and Sheryle around their fingers. In 2008, Ethan started school at Cherry Orchard in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham. Alongside school, he attended Goals in Perry Barr every Saturday to train and play football. Conor would later join him, and regularly the two would battle it out for man of the match in their age groups. At the age of 8, Ethan was asked to join a local team, North Birmingham Celtic. This decision would go on to map his football career. During his very first match, Ethan’s long legs were doing overtime and he immediately stood out. After the match, Leroy and Sheryle were approached by the opposition manager, who also happened to be called Leroy. He explained he had contacts at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and would like to put Ethan forward for a trial. Following a successful trial, Ethan was asked to sign as an Under 9 within the Foundation Phase of the academy. This was an exciting time for Ethan and the family, and of course, they said yes. In 2016, Leroy and Sheryle made the decision to move to Wolverhampton, as the travelling was beginning to take its toll on everyone. Ethan attended Thomas Telford School, which proved to be the ideal fit, allowing him to continue his education while fully supporting his football at Wolves. Ethan still enjoyed school life and became an integral part of the school football team. They went on to become one of the most successful teams in Thomas Telford’s history, winning several national cup competitions over a number of years. During his Under 15 season, Ethan received an England camp call-up. Ethan and the family were ecstatic, as he had worked so hard over the years and it was fully deserved. Around this time, Ethan began travelling independently, venturing into Telford and Birmingham with his friends Nathan K, Jay, Theo, Narrel, Tay, Jessie, Jude, to name but a few. He also travelled abroad to many European countries and the Far East, playing in football tournaments with Wolves. Ethan finished school at 16 and, despite the demands of football, achieved good GCSE grades. He couldn’t wait to begin his two-year scholarship at Wolves and fully concentrate on his football. As Ethan continued his football journey, he experienced the triumphs, setbacks, and challenges that came with pursuing his dreams. He was drafted for the first series of the Ballers League, filmed live on Sky TV every Monday, and he loved the glamour of it all, enjoying the experience of rubbing shoulders with celebrities. Ethan was also involved in the setup of a clothing brand alongside other young footballers. He especially enjoyed working with his best mate Harry, sharing great times promoting the brand, creating marketing campaigns, and taking part in photo shoots - Ethan loved being in front of the camera. Away from football, Ethan embraced life fully. He loved travelling and holidaying with friends, visiting Mykonos, Magaluf, Dubai, and Marbella with Fletcher, Fabian, Benji, Harry, and of course his little brother Conor. Living the high life suited Ethan down to the ground. He loved the sun, being on holiday, chilling, eating good food, and always keeping an eye out for the ladies. Ethan very sadly and unexpectedly passed away while travelling home from a match against Bedford on the evening of 16th December 2025. Losing Ethan has been devastating and remains a daily struggle for the family, but some comfort is found in reflecting on the life he lived, the love he gave, and the many hearts he so clearly touched.