HORSLEY, DERBYSHIRE — Maddy Cusack, 27, was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023. An inquest into her death is being held at Chesterfield Coroner's Court. Cusack held a dual contract with Sheffield United, working in the club's marketing department and as a player on the women's team.

Dr Delroy Hall, a voluntary chaplain at Sheffield United from 2017 until November 2023, told the inquest that Cusack spoke with him multiple times in August 2023, including on 23 August. Hall stated that Cusack expressed pressure from juggling her football and marketing careers. He recalled telling Cusack: "Training and working meant she was occupied all seven days a week." Hall said he told her that her working hours were "not sustainable." He also told the inquest he did not believe Cusack seemed at risk of self-harm. Hall resigned from his voluntary role in November 2023, stating he no longer knew who he was supposed to report to at the club.

Jonathan Morgan, who was appointed manager of the Sheffield United women's team in February 2023, coached Cusack at the club. Morgan told the inquest he informed the Football Association that Cusack was "generally a liar." He stated that Cusack "omitted a lot of information" when she spoke to her family about his behaviour. Morgan said he told Cusack she was "too muscular, too bottom-heavy" to carry out the number of sprints needed with his style of football. He stated that he started to see a difference in Cusack's behaviour in August 2023, describing her as "less bubbly, less energetic." Morgan arranged a meeting with Cusack on 4 September 2023 and contacted the club doctor, Dr Subhasis Basu, about her health afterward. He stated he had not expressed concerns to the club doctor that Cusack was at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Grace Riglar, a former teammate, stated that Cusack was anxious about Morgan joining Sheffield United due to their prior interactions at Leicester City. Nina Wilson, another former teammate, told the court that Cusack's death was "definitely preventable" and that Morgan had left a number of players feeling "ostracised and isolated." Carl Shieber, Sheffield United's head of football administration, told the inquest that nobody had ever said to him that Cusack was struggling to do both her jobs for the club. Stephen Bettis, the club's chief executive, stated he had never been made aware that Cusack was struggling with the pressures of juggling her jobs.