Her Story
About Ellen
Ellen Jones is a professional footballer for Sunderland, a senior Wales international — and someone who has managed Type 1 Diabetes at the top of the game since being diagnosed at 19.
From playing tennis and football in the garden with her three brothers, Ellen played for Millfield and Bristol City’s academy and first team. A diagnosis at 19 that could have ended things didn’t stop her and she signed her first professional contract less than a year later. She now supports the next generation of young athletes living with T1D.
My Journey
Ellen's Story
Childhood
A tennis player who never left the garden football alone
Growing up, Ellen was a tennis player first — but she was always out in the garden playing football with her three brothers too. Up to the age of 14 she competed across multiple sports, including basketball, swimming, athletics, tennis and football.
From there she progressed to county and national level in tennis, hockey, netball and cricket, before finally choosing to specialise in football.
Football Journey
From Millfield to a WSL debut at 17
Ellen's football journey started out playing for the Millfield boys football team, before she joined Bristol City from the U14s, working her way right through to the first team.
She made her Women's Super League debut at just 17, while completing her A-levels. That summer, she moved to America to become a student-athlete at the University of Colorado.
Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis
Diagnosed at 19 — and determined it wouldn't stop her
In December 2021, Ellen was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 19. She was determined that this wouldn't stop her from achieving her dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Less than a year later, in September 2022, she signed her first professional football contract with Leicester City in the Women's Super League.
Challenges Faced Along the Way
Learning to adapt, full-time
Ellen has spent the last three seasons playing for Sunderland. Training and playing full-time meant learning how to adapt and prepare her body for different intensities of training and match minutes — all while managing Type 1 Diabetes.
Diabetes has always been there in the background while she's managed sport and education side by side — never centre stage, but never something she could switch off from either.
Career Achievements
On the pitch
Represented Wales U15 & U17
Represented England U17 at the European Championships
Wales senior international camps, 2022–2025
54 appearances for Sunderland in the WSL2
Won Baller of the Round in the FA Cup after scoring a hat-trick, January 2025
Won Goal of the Month for WSL2, April 2025
Nominated for Goal of the Season for WSL2, 2025
Lessons Learned
Alongside the game, a First and a Masters
While building her football career, Ellen also achieved a First Class Honours degree in Business & Management, followed by a Masters in Media & Public Relations.
Balancing elite sport, study and diabetes management taught her that none of it works in isolation — training, education and health all have to be managed together, not treated as separate problems.
Mission
Why she started this
Ellen started this following a speech she gave at her old school's end-of-year speech day, where both pupils and parents were interested in speaking to her about her journey managing sport and studies alongside navigating diabetes.
She isn't someone who has only researched diabetes and applied it to sport — she lives with it every day while performing at a professional level. Since being diagnosed, she has wanted to build a business where she can be a role model to aspiring athletes with diabetes.
Vision for T1D Player Support
Confidence that anything is possible
Ellen wants to share her experiences and offer support, mentoring and tips in whatever way is needed — through 1-to-1 mentoring, video calls, or public speaking at schools and clubs.
Above all, she wants to give anyone — whether that's young athletes or their parents — confidence that with diabetes, anything in sport is possible.
Ready to work with Ellen?
Book a video call, or get in touch about public speaking at your school or club — and let's build a plan that helps you manage T1D with confidence, on and off the pitch.