The former captain of Sheffield United’s women’s team testified at an inquest that she believes the relocation of Maddy Cusack’s girlfriend was the primary factor contributing to her mental health deterioration. Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was informed that Cusack’s family lodged a formal complaint against the team’s head coach, Jonathan Morgan, citing issues related to her association with him.
Cusack was discovered unresponsive at her residence in Horsley, Derbyshire, by her father on September 20, 2023, and passed away the same day. During the proceedings, Sophie Barker, the team’s former captain, expressed her belief that if Cusack’s girlfriend, Grace Riglar, had not moved to another football club, Cusack’s situation might have been different.
Barker conveyed that Cusack had confided in her about feeling anxious when Morgan joined United due to past negative experiences working with him. Despite concerns, Cusack decided to give Morgan another chance. However, Barker revealed that Cusack did not share any issues concerning Morgan with her, possibly to avoid confrontation as she disliked such situations.
The inquest also heard testimonies suggesting that Cusack perceived Morgan’s actions as detrimental to her well-being, including feeling targeted by his decisions regarding her playing time. Moreover, a colleague noted a change in Cusack’s demeanor, describing her as withdrawn and less engaged compared to her previous self.
Francesca Carr, the former head physiotherapist for United’s women’s team, stated that while she did not anticipate self-harm from Cusack, she noticed instances of emotional distress, such as Cusack becoming visibly upset over minor incidents. The inquest further explored Cusack’s feelings of being mistreated by Morgan and the impact of her absence from the starting line-up on her mental state.
The ongoing inquest aims to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Cusack’s tragic passing, shedding light on the complexities of her mental health struggles and the various factors that may have contributed to her decline.
