Club Resources and Transition Challenges
Sheffield United’s women’s team reportedly lacked sufficient resources to adequately support its players during the summer of 2023, according to a former physio, Francesca Carr. Her testimony was given during an inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack, a player for the team. Cusack was found deceased at her family’s home in Derbyshire on 20 September 2023.
Carr, who served as the women’s team physio between 2021 and 2024, described the club’s transition from part-time to full-time status as feeling “rushed.” She noted that staff members often took on multiple responsibilities beyond their primary roles, including preparing meals for the team. In her opinion, there were “insufficient resources to properly run the club and look after the players” during this period.
Concerns were also raised about player welfare. Carr stated that players might not have known where to seek assistance from the club’s HR department following a change in their training venue. She also mentioned that the mental well-being of some squad members caused her greater concern than Cusack’s prior to her death.
Concerns Regarding Player Welfare and Management
Carr recalled that Cusack was “on her radar” during the summer of 2023, as the midfielder had expressed worries about her housing situation and her girlfriend being geographically distant. Carr also described an incident where Cusack’s reaction to mistakenly going to the wrong training ground appeared “excessive,” prompting Carr to share her concerns about Cusack’s well-being with manager Jonathan Morgan.
Evidence presented during the inquest included statements from Cusack’s father, David, and her girlfriend, former Sheffield United player Grace Riglar. Both indicated that Cusack felt she had been unfairly excluded from the starting line-up for Morgan’s initial match in charge in February 2023. However, Carr corroborated Morgan’s account, stating that she had advised him that Cusack was not fit to play in that particular match.
Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, testified that Cusack was “anxious” about Morgan’s arrival at the club due to previous experiences with him at Leicester City. Riglar recounted Cusack telling her that Morgan had called her a “psycho” from the sidelines during a game when he was managing against her team. Riglar believed these comments affected Cusack, making her uncomfortable.
Riglar also suggested that Morgan’s decision to frequently move Cusack between the starting line-up and the bench felt like a “personal attack” and “mind games.” She stated that Cusack, accustomed to starting every game, viewed this as a significant setback. Morgan, who is representing himself at the inquest, noted that Cusack had played in five of the nine league games he managed and started the first three games of the subsequent season.
Comments made by Morgan about Cusack’s weight and relationship were also brought up. Riglar told the inquest that Morgan made a comment about Cusack’s weight, which led to changes in her eating and exercise habits, including avoiding carbohydrates and skipping breakfast. Riglar also found it uncomfortable when Morgan referred to her as “Mrs Cusack” in front of other players, as they aimed to keep their professional and personal lives separate.
Eoin Doyle, Cusack’s line manager in United’s marketing department, testified that Cusack appeared anxious about interacting with Morgan after his appointment. Doyle also recalled a conversation in August 2023 where Cusack confided in him about various issues, including her housing situation and her career aspirations. Doyle described Cusack as “not the Maddy I knew” during this period. Morgan reportedly referred to Cusack as “love sick” during a conversation with Doyle, referencing Riglar’s move to a different club.
The inquest heard that Cusack had a sick note from a doctor for time off from both playing part-time and her full-time marketing job at Sheffield United. She had also been prescribed anti-anxiety medication. The inquest continues on Thursday.
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Source: theguardian.com
Niamh Pendlebury is the Sports Reporter at NewsGB.org, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB and the county circuit. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Preston, she plays club tennis and follows road running. “The best interviews come from patience, not pressure.”