30.06.2026 15:20
Maddy Cusack, 27, who played for Sheffield United, took her own life in great terror and despair due to the possibility of her former manager Jonathan Morgan returning to the club. The young footballer, who had found peace by fleeing Leicester City, entered an unbearable ordeal upon facing her former manager again.
The veil of mystery surrounding the death of 27-year-old Maddy Cusack, one of the most beloved and successful figures in English women's football who played for Sheffield United and was found dead at her home in September 2023, is lifting. Grieving father David Cusack, testifying in court as part of the ongoing inquest into the young star's death, detailed minute by minute the psychological breakdown behind his daughter's death and the "nightmarish" process that began with her former coach's return to the club.
The father of the unfortunate footballer, who was found hanged at her home in the village of Horsley in Derbyshire, England, on September 20, 2023, stated that before taking her own life, his daughter was in a state of great "horror and hopelessness" due to the possibility of her former coach Jonathan Morgan returning to the club.
According to testimony presented at the inquest hearing, Maddy Cusack had left the club due to the harsh and hurtful management style of coach Jonathan Morgan, with whom she had previously worked at Leicester City. Her father stated that when his daughter left Leicester City, she had "never encountered such a character in her life" and that Morgan's way of interacting with people made his daughter's life "unbearable."
After leaving Leicester, Maddy transferred to Sheffield United in January 2019 and was reborn there. The young woman, who also began working part-time in the club's marketing department, loved her life and career in Sheffield. However, this peace came to a complete end in February 2023 when Jonathan Morgan was appointed head coach of the Sheffield United women's team.
Father David Cusack recounted those days in his court testimony with these words: "When she learned he would re-enter her life, she was completely devastated. I still tried to stay positive, saying, 'Look, maybe he has changed. It could be a fresh start for both of you,' but things didn't go that way at all."
Full-Time Contract Turned into a Nightmare
According to data presented in court, in the months before her death, Maddy had abandoned her strict healthy eating regimen, lost all motivation, and become embittered toward life. Her father stated that his daughter hadn't completely let herself go, but she felt empty and had essentially collapsed.
During the hearing, coach Morgan, defending himself without a lawyer, asked the father whether his daughter's reason for leaving Leicester City was her inability to get playing time due to an injury. Father David reiterated that his daughter left not because of injury, but entirely due to a "personality conflict" with Morgan and psychological pressure.
The grieving father, who said that ironically, signing a "full-time (professional) footballer contract"—something his daughter had wanted most before her death—turned into the worst thing for her, claimed that the contract process was deliberately dragged out all summer:
"In my theory, the club intentionally prolonged the process. They thought, 'If we don't offer her a contract, she'll go elsewhere.' In July, my daughter became very ill. When she finally signed the full-time contract, her training hours started to conflict with her marketing job at the club. She didn't know how to manage both roles; she was extremely anxious and worried. Moreover, the money she received was less than the previous year. She had completely lost her zest for life."
Stating that his daughter once said, "I have no future," the father admitted that they did not think their daughter was suicidal, but only assumed she was suffering from severe depression.
The investigation revealed that Sheffield United club did not provide Maddy with any psychotherapy or professional mental health support. It was noted that the young footballer, who obtained a sick leave report from her doctor and started taking antidepressant medication, feared being completely ostracized from the team, mocked, and excluded if she used her mental health issues as an "excuse."
David Cusack, who found his daughter motionless upstairs in their home and couldn't save her despite calling an ambulance and performing CPR, emphasized that they will not give up their pursuit of justice:
"After my daughter's death, we want those we believe are responsible for this situation to be held accountable. Instead of just saying 'What a pity, so sad' and moving on, I documented all the problems my daughter told us about and filed a complaint. The man in the crosshairs is Mr. Morgan. This death is not a mystery; everything is clear."
In Sheffield United club's own internal investigation completed in December 2023, it was claimed that no misconduct or criminal elements were found on the part of the coach or management.
Maddy Cusack, before her death, held the title of being the first female footballer to play 100 official matches for Sheffield United women's football team and was one of the club's most senior and beloved players. Her death plunged the entire English football community into mourning.