'Keep dancing Ella!' Celebrities and sports stars back girl with Down’s Syndrome, 16, who was trolled when video of her at football match was posted online

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Celebrities and sports stars have backed the father of Down's Syndrome girl after vile Twitter trolls targeted her online.

Neil Markham, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, tweeted a clip of 16-year-old Ella dancing at the new stadium after the 0-1 defeat to West Ham.    

But after the video was uploaded to social media, trolls began bombarding his account with abuse.

Actress Patsy Kensit spoke out to say she was 'shocked and disgusted' and called Ella 'incredible.'

While former Spurs players Graham Roberts and Micky Hazard got in touch with messages of comfort for the father of three. 

Proud father-of-three Neil Markham tweeted the clip of 16-year-old Ella (pictured, in the video) at Spurs' new stadium after the 0-1 defeat to West Ham

The 43-year-old has taken a stand and given out his phone number challenging the trolls to contact him directly.

It sparked a flurry of messages in support of the Tottenham fan and his teenage daughter, including from famous people. 

Others hailed Ella as a 'class act' and said the video had 'brought a little sunshine' to their day. 

Mr Markham this week posted the video with the caption:  'The result is never the most important thing #COYS.'

But soon the abuse began, and he responded: 'What is wrong with people? 

'This girl would wish you nothing but happiness. Why do you need to be like this? Contact me directly rather than hiding.' 

In a later tweet he wrote: 'I’m getting tired of remarks from people that aren’t prepared to front up. 

'The girl in the video has a name. It’s Ella. Ella is my daughter so please clarify your smart remarks.'

Many of the trolls then backed down and some even deleted their social media accounts.

Mr Markham (pictured with his daughter Ella) was left distraught after being bombarded with sickening messages from trolls

 

Mr Markham directly responded to the abuse, challenging the trolls to contact him directly. He later thanked users for their support after he was sent thousands of positive messages about his daughter

The video has been viewed more than 1.6million times, got 24,000 likes and he has had nearly 8,000 messages in support.

Actress Patsy Kensit wrote: 'I am shocked and disgusted that vile trolls would sink to depth of cruelty. 

'I support this beautiful girl, this human being, and her brave fabulous father...come and have a go if you think your (sic) hard enough and then crawl back into your dark and disgusting hole. 

'Ella you are incredible. Sending love and light to you and your family. love @patsykensit.' 

Ella in her Harry Kane Spurs strip (left) and with her parents Neil and Adele

One said: 'Don’t let a couple of mindless morons get you down fella. Ella is a class act mate.'

Another wrote:  'Your daughter is so beautiful! How anyone could ridicule her... let me at em! My advice is just immediately block anyone that says anything negative. This place is full of amazing, supportive people, don’t be put off!! X'

And another wrote: 'I wonder if you realise what a little bit of sunshine that video bought into so many people's day. It was gorgeous, just like your Ella. Thanks for sharing x.' 

Mr Markham - also dad to Danny, 11 and Ryan, 26 - also got a message from a former first team player offering support.

Former Spurs favourite Micky Hazard got in touch with Mr Markham (left) offering his support, calling her a 'beautiful young lady'

Actress Patsy Kensit also spoke out against the abuse, saying she was 'shocked and disgusted'

Thousands of Twitter users got in touch with Mr Markham on Twitter to offer messages of support

Tottenham legend Graham Roberts tweeted: '@NeilMarkham1 and his lovely daughter Ella are guests of mine at my gala dinner in May and I can't wait to spend a special evening with her.'

Another former Spurs favourite Micky Hazard said: 'Hey Neil your daughter is a beautiful young lady and that is such a beautiful photo of you both.

'Sometimes people are cruel because they don't see the beauty but the vast majority do.

'I have a Finale programme signed by the Legends for her, meet me at a game so I can give it to her x.' 

Ella pictured with Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles at a fundraising event

Sales director Mr Markham - married to Adele, also 43 - said: 'I was rock bottom on Saturday night and I feel so much better now and it can only be a positive thing.

'My social media life is really about my kids, it's not really about anything else. My brother lives away and it was a way of keeping him in the loop.

'A lot of people said it was a joke or their account was hacked.'

Mr Markham said some trolls had used an abusive term.

Ella watching Tottenham at the new stadium (left) and with her father Neil (right)

He added: 'I've had people message me to say that they used to use that word before and they said they will not use it again.  

'If one person doesn't, Ella has made a difference.'

He added: 'She loves Harry Kane, but music and dancing is her passion. 

'I'm not a snowflake but I will protect my daughter because I'm the only one who can. That is my job.'

'We've had the best part of 9,000 messages and now 99 per cent of them are positive.'

A Spurs spokesman said: 'We are extremely disappointed to see the reaction by a small minority of people to a social media post by Ella’s father of his daughter at our most recent home game.

'We will do all we can to identify those responsible for these posts and take the appropriate action. We are in contact with Ella’s family to ensure she realises just how grateful we are for her support and that has been reflected even wider by the overwhelmingly positive support to the video from true football supporters.'