Maddy Cusack’s mother has spoken of her daughter’s concerns about the future of her playing career and her feeling that it is ‘under threat’ following the 27-year-old’s tragic death in September.
Cusack was Sheffield United’s vice-captain and longest-serving player before she died at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20, but in a speech given by her mother Deborah at her memorial service in October, later shared on social media, the family claimed that her The spirit was allowed to be ‘broken’ by football.
Derbyshire Police said at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Mail Sport reported on Monday that the family have said Sheffield United have opened an investigation into the circumstances they believe contributed to Cusack’s death.
In conversation with BBC breakfast in her first public interview since the tragedy, Deborah stated that the investigation was conducted at the request of the family.
Maddy Cusack’s mother Deborah (left) has described the pressures of women’s football in her first public interview after her daughter’s death
Deborah called life without her daughter ‘unimaginable’ and ‘unbearable’ on BBC Breakfast
Cusack was Sheffield United’s vice-captain and longest-serving player after joining in 2019
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“She became Miss Sheffield United, they called her Miss Sheffield United,” Deborah said of her daughter’s relationship with the club she joined in 2019.
“She fell in love with the city, she fell in love with the fans, she fell in love with the whole place, and she found her home there, yes she did,” Deborah added.
But as in an additional statement shared on Monday, Deborah added that there has been a change in her daughter’s attitude and well-being since February this year.
“She was worried about her football career,” Deborah continued. ‘Because football was everything to her. It hurts when that is threatened in any way.
“Her spirit was broken. That’s the best way I can describe it to you.’
Previously, Cusack’s family had stressed that ‘those who knew Maddy well will be aware that she had no long-term mental health issues or problems.’
They described her as being ‘at her happiest’ over the Christmas period of 2022, but added: ‘This all gradually changed from February this year.’
Deborah continued: ‘Sheffield United. Last year their players were part-time, meaning they all had full-time jobs, played three times a week, played on Sundays, and often traveled on Saturdays to play on Sundays. For minimal money. I think Madeleine earned £6,000 a year playing football.
“So these girls have to juggle two jobs, they have to train and behave like male athletes for a minuscule (percentage) of the amount of money they get, it’s too much, the pressure is way too much.”
According to the BBC, Sheffield United cannot confirm or deny that the investigation is ongoing, but the club have stated that they are offering full support to the Cusack family.
Deborah called life without her daughter ‘you’conceivable.’
‘Unbearable. it’s just unbelievable.
“We did a commemoration with Sheffield United during the Newcastle game and I walked onto the pitch and we got applause from 40,000 fans,” Deborah continued.
‘I did that because I had to show the world that I was proud of everything Madeleine did. She has accomplished more in her 27 years than many people do in their entire lives.”
Her sister Felicia called her ‘a role model’ and admitted she had always looked up to her sister, while her brother Richard branded her a ‘fierce competitor’.
On Monday, the Cusack family shared a speech read at her memorial, which spoke of her spirit being “broken” amid the pressures of the sport.
Clubs in the WSL and Premier League (pictured) paid tribute to Cusack following her death
Sheffield United fans left floral tributes and messages at Bramall Lane in honor of number 8
Her game was “all about being strong,” he added. “She was a very proud person.”
The family have started a charity on behalf of their daughter, the Maddy Cusack Foundation, with the aim of raising money to buy football boots for girls who want to play the game.
“For Madeleine we had to have a ball under the Christmas tree every Christmas and every year she had a brand new pair of boots,” Deborah added.
“You know, football boots aren’t the cheapest thing you can buy and if we could help some young girls get started with them, Maddy would have loved that, so we’d love to do that.”