The mother of the late Maddy Cusack said the former Sheffield United Women midfielder’s spirit was “allowed to be broken by football”.
On September 20, the Blades' longest-serving female player passed away at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire at the age of 27 years old. Derbyshire police ruled they were not treating her death as suspicious, and an inquest into her passing was opened and adjourned in a brief hearing at Derby Coroner’s Court.
Her former club recently announced they have agreed to a full external inquiry into the events leading up to her death. Soon after this was confirmed, a message from her mother, Deborah, was uploaded to social media by a foundation named after Cusack.
READ MORE: Sheffield United women's star dies aged 27 as Prem club pay emotional tribute to player
READ MORE: Maddy Cusack's death at 27 'not suspicious' as police release update on women's footballer
It read: “My beautiful daughter, Madeleine. The saddest and most utterly heart-breaking reason why I am having to stand here and speak to you today is because of football.
“From February this year, the indomitable, irrepressible spirit, the spirit called Maddy, the spirit that we had so fiercely protected, was allowed to be broken, taking her away from me.”
Another post from the foundation accompanying her mother’s also read: “Those who knew Maddy well will be aware that she had no long standing mental health issues or troubles. Not that there would be anything to be ashamed of if there were, but there were not.
“Those that didn’t know her need to know that. Maddy was a happy-go-lucky, carefree girl with everything to live for and by last Christmas could be described as being at her happiest.
“This all changed gradually from February this year. It is no secret, nor should it be, that Sheffield United Football Club have agreed at the request of Maddy’s family to carry out a thorough external investigation into the events that her family believe contributed significantly to her passing at the tender age of 27.”
After joining the club in 2019, Cusack spent four seasons at Sheffield United. She also worked for the club as a marketing executive, which she did alongside her training and matches.
Daily Star Sport reached out to the club, but Sheffield United declined to comment.
Source: Read Full Article