Macclesfield forward Ethan McLeod has died following a car accident on the M1 motorway while travelling home from a match on Tuesday evening.
The 21-year-old was returning from Macclesfield’s National League North fixture at Bedford Town, where he had featured as a substitute.
The collision occurred at around 22:40 GMT near Northampton, when his white Mercedes struck a barrier.
In a statement, Macclesfield described McLeod as “incredibly talented” and a “well-respected member” of the squad, adding: “News of Ethan’s passing has devastated our entire club and no words can convey the immense sense of sadness and loss that we feel now.”
McLeod joined Wolverhampton Wanderers’ academy at the age of seven and went on to represent the club’s under-21 side in the EFL Trophy, though he never made a senior appearance.
The Birmingham-born forward, known for his pace, spent time on loan at Alvechurch in the Southern League and later had short spells with Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge after leaving Molineux.
He signed for Macclesfield in July following a successful trial and made five appearances for the Silkmen.
His most recent outing came on Saturday in an FA Trophy tie against South Shields, and he scored his second goal for the club in a 1-1 draw with King’s Lynn Town on 10 December.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, where McLeod’s younger brother Conor, 20, plays for the under-21s, said they were “heartbroken” by the tragic death of their former player and confirmed the club would provide care and support to Conor and his family.
