Ethan McLeod

Ethan McLeod
McLeod with Wolves in 2023
Personal information
Full name Ethan Lucius McLeod
Date of birth (2004-09-11)11 September 2004
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 16 December 2025(2025-12-16) (aged 21)
Place of death Northamptonshire, England
Positions
Youth career
2014–2024 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2024 → Alvechurch (loan) 7 (0)
2024 Rushall Olympic 1 (0)
2024–2025 Stourbridge 13 (4)
2025 Macclesfield 3 (1)
Total 24 (5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ethan Lucius McLeod (11 September 2004 – 16 December 2025) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. He last played for Macclesfield in the National League North.

Career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

McLeod joined the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy in 2014 at the age of 7. He signed a professional contract with the club in 2023. He made appearances for the club in the Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy. He was also invited to England youth training camps during his time at Wolves.

On 1 January 2024, McLeod joined Southern League side Alvechurch on loan. He played 9 times in total for the club.

Having suffered injury problems towards the end of his Wolves career, he was released by the club in September 2024.

Rushall Olympic

On 12 October 2024, McLeod signed for National League North side Rushall Olympic on a one-month contract. He left the club at the end of his contract.

Stourbridge

On 9 November 2024, McLeod joined Southern League club Stourbridge, hoping for more regular game time. He made 14 appearances for the club in the 2024–25 season, scoring 4 goals.

Macclesfield

On 14th July 2025, McLeod joined National League North side Macclesfield after impressing manager John Rooney as a trialist in their friendly against Mansfield Town.

Personal life

McLeod's brother, Conor, plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers' development squad.

As well as his career in semi-professional football, McLeod also participated in the first season of Baller League UK, playing for YouTuber TBJZL's team VZN FC in Summer 2025 after leaving Stourbridge.

Death and legacy

Car accident

On 16 December 2025, McLeod was returning home from Macclesfield's game away at Bedford Town when he was involved in a collision on the M1 motorway, crashing into a roadside barrier near Junction 15. Northamptonshire Police later confirmed he died on the scene.

Reaction

Macclesfield announced the news of his death the next morning. Former clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge also shared messages of condolences.

On 20 December, a minute's silence was held before Wolves' Premier League match against Brentford in McLeod's memory.

Macclesfield's next match, a home league fixture against Alfreton Town, was postponed. On Boxing Day, they returned to playing, in a match against Buxton dedicated to McLeod.

Legacy

On 24 December, Macclesfield announced they would be retiring the number 20 shirt, which McLeod wore during his time at the club.

On 15 June 2026, Macclesfield announced the creation of their new youth and development system, the Emerging Talent Group, set up in McLeod's memory.

FA Cup upset

On 10 January 2026, Macclesfield played in the FA Cup third round at home to Premier League opposition Crystal Palace. This was regarded as the biggest match in the club's history since its revival in 2021. The match was once again dedicated to McLeod, with his portrait hung in the dugout and a banner paying tribute hung in the stands.

Macclesfield won the match 2–1 in what is regarded as the biggest upset in FA Cup history. McLeod's parents celebrated the victory with the players after the game. They were eliminated in the next round in a 1–0 loss against Brentford.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 2023–24 ———2 020
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2023–24 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Alvechurch (loan) 2023–24 Southern League Premier Division Central 7 0 0 0 — 2 0 9 0
Rushall Olympic 2024–25 National League North 1 0 1 0 — 0 0 2 0
Stourbridge 2024–25 Southern League Premier Division Central 13 4 0 0 — 1 0 14 4
Macclesfield 2024–25 National League North 3 1 1 1 — 3 1 7 3
Career total 245210081347
  1. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in Worcestershire Senior Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in Birmingham Senior Cup
  4. ↑ Two appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Cheshire Senior Cup

References

  1. ↑ "Ethan McLeod". Macclesfield FC Official Website. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ethan McLeod | 2004-2025 | Club | News". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  3. ↑ "Wolves' McLeod takes first Wonderkids Euros Challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  4. ↑ "Alvechurch FC (@Alvechurch1st) on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Under-21s quartet depart Wolves | Under-21 | News". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  6. ↑ "BREAKING: PICS ADD TO ATTACKING OPTIONS WITH McLEOD SIGNING". rofc.co.uk. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  7. ↑ "NEW SIGNING: Stour bolster attacking options with the signing of ETHAN MCLEOD". www.stourbridgefc.com. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  8. ↑ Leah, Ben (2025-07-14). "ETHAN McLEOD BECOMES OUR THIRD SUMMER ADDITION". Macclesfield FC Official Website. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  9. 1 2 "Ethan McLeod: Macclesfield forward dies in car accident on M1". BBC Sport. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  10. ↑ Leah, Ben (2025-12-17). "ETHAN McLEOD 2004-2025". Macclesfield FC Official Website. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  11. ↑ "Tributes pour in after former Glassboys forward dies in motorway crash". Stourbridge News. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  12. ↑ "Wolves players and fans come together for emotional Ethan McLeod tribute ahead of Premier League clash". Express and Star. 2025-12-20. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  13. ↑ "Macclesfield v Buxton to go ahead in memory of Ethan McLeod". BBC Sport. 2025-12-23. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  14. ↑ Leah, Ben (2025-12-24). "SILKMEN TO RETIRE NUMBER 20 SHIRT IN MEMORY OF ETHAN McLEOD | Macclesfield FC Official Website". Macclesfield FC Official Website. Archived from the original on 2026-04-10. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  15. ↑ Jones, Will (2026-06-15). "SILKMEN FORM EMERGING TALENT GROUP". Macclesfield FC Official Website. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  16. ↑ "FA Cup: Macclesfield make history on emotional day". BBC Sport. 2026-01-10. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  17. ↑ "Macclesfield 0-1 Brentford: Premier League side edge past non-league Macclesfield thanks to second-half own goal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  18. 1 2 "Ethan McLeod Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Alvechurch F.C. Alvechurch FC First Team statistics". www.alvechurchfc.club. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  20. ↑ "Ethan McLeod 2024–25 Appearances". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 15 June 2026.