Coach called Maddy Cusack a 'psycho', inquest told

An inquest has heard that the coach of former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack called her a "psycho" and engaged in mind games before her death. Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and died the same day.

Allegations of Verbal Abuse

At Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Tuesday, it was revealed that Jonathan Morgan, then manager of Sheffield United's women's team, had made comments about Cusack's weight and her relationship. Grace Riglar, a teammate and Cusack's girlfriend, testified that Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club due to her prior experience with him at Leicester City.

Riglar stated: "I think it was stuff she told me about her previous experience prior to Jonathan coming to Sheffield. I think she said that they played a game against a team while Jonathan was the manager. She had done something on the pitch and Jonathan called her a psycho from the sideline. I don't think she let anyone know those types of comments affected her, but they did and they made her uncomfortable."

Impact on Playing Time and Personal Life

Riglar added that Cusack perceived Morgan's decision to frequently bench her as a "personal attack." Cusack, who was accustomed to starting every game, saw being moved in and out of the starting lineup as a setback. Riglar said: "I just think she almost felt like it was a bit of a personal attack, and that Jonathan was playing mind games with her by starting her one week and dropping her the next. She just felt those little things were intentional."

Morgan also commented on Cusack's relationship with Riglar. In the first team meeting after joining, Morgan instructed players to disclose any relationships within the team. Riglar testified: "She found it uncomfortable when Jonathan would call me 'Mrs Cusack', especially in front of other players. We wanted to keep our relationship very professional. The football side and relationship side were very separate."

Changes in Eating and Exercise Habits

Riglar told the court that Morgan made a remark about Cusack's weight, prompting her to alter her eating and exercise habits. She stopped eating carbohydrates, skipped breakfast, and went for extra runs after training. Riglar noted: "She was one of the fittest players on the team anyway."

Mental Health Deterioration

The inquest heard that Cusack became "paranoid" at the start of the new season. Riglar said: "She didn't really have anyone she could speak to without it getting back to Jonathan." Cusack had a sick note from a doctor for time off from both her part-time playing role and her full-time marketing job at Sheffield United. She had also been prescribed anti-anxiety medication.

Before her death, Cusack told her girlfriend she wanted to move to Dubai and become a flight attendant, and had been searching for new jobs online. Riglar added: "She didn't want to go back to playing football. I don't think she really knew how to get out of that situation."

Witness Testimony from Colleague

Eoin Doyle, Cusack's line manager in United's marketing department, also gave evidence on Tuesday. He recalled being with Cusack when she first saw Morgan after he became manager. Doyle said: "She was anxious about whether she should go up and say hello to him and Maddy is usually a confident young woman." He added that her reaction was "different to how I would see her approach someone else."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is available through the BBC Action Line.