Maddy Cusack

Madeleine Cusack (28 October 1995 – 20 September 2023) was an English footballer who played for Sheffield United in the second-tier Women's Championship,[4][5][6][7][8] and was a former English youth international.[9]

Maddy Cusack
Cusack in 2022
Personal information
Birth name Madeleine Cusack
Date of birth (1995-10-28)28 October 1995
Place of birth Nottingham, England[1]
Date of death 20 September 2023(2023-09-20) (aged 27)
Place of death Horsley, Derbyshire, England[2]
Position(s) Midfielder[3]
Youth career
0000–2012 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Aston Villa
2017–2018 Birmingham City 0 (0)
2018–2019 Leicester City 7 (0)
2019–2023 Sheffield United 86 (3)
International career
England U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Education and club career

Cusack attended the University of Derby where she achieved a first-class honours degree in marketing, public relations, and advertising.[10] She started her career at Nottingham Forest academy, before transferring to Aston Villa in 2012. In 2017, she joined Birmingham City, then played for Leicester City a year later. She moved to Sheffield United in January 2019, under head coach Carla Ward.[11][12][13] Eighteen months later, she renewed her contract with the club,[12] and subsequently became the first player to reach 100 appearances for Sheffield United.[11][14] In 2021, the club's manager, Neil Redfearn, described Cusack as "a great trainer, a real asset of the club and... someone who wants to get better and wants to drive on".[15]

Cusack went on to become a marketing executive at Sheffield United alongside her career as a footballer.[7][16] She signed a new one-year contract with the club in July 2023.[17] A month later, she was named vice-captain of the club.[18]

International career

Cusack was called up for England U19 during the 2013 UEFA Championship qualifying round,[19] but she was not named in the squad for the final tournament.

A year later, she was selected for the 2014 Championship,[20] where she played in all group stage matches.[21]

Death

Cusack died on 20 September 2023, at the age of 27.[4] At the time of her death she was the longest-serving player in the Sheffield United women's squad.[9] On 24 September, a minute's silence was held for Cusack before Sheffield United's Premier League game against Newcastle United. Cusack was also shown on the front cover of the match day programme. Wreaths were laid outside Bramall Lane by supporters and Newcastle co-owner, Amanda Staveley, and on the pitch by Cusack's family, club captain Sophie Brown and former player Tony Currie. The crowd also applauded in the 8th minute, representing Cusack's squad number.[22] A further minute’s silence was held at the City Ground on 1 October before the Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Brentford as Cusack had started her career their in the youth team of Nottingham Forest Women.[23]

References
  1. "Maddy Cusack". playmakerstats.com.
  2. "Cusack death not suspicious, say police". BBC Sport. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. "Maddy Cusack". Sheffield United FC.
  4. "Maddy Cusack: Sheffield United Women midfielder dies aged 27". Sky Sports. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  5. "Sheffield United Women player Maddy Cusack dies aged 27". The Athletic. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. "Tributes paid to Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack". BBC News. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  7. "Sheff Utd 'devastated' by death of Cusack at 27". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. "RIP Maddy Cusack". Sheffield United FC. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. Smith, Troy (22 September 2023). "Women's Soccer Star Dead At 27". MSN. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  10. "Maddy Cusack". LinkedIn.
  11. "Maddy Cusack: Sheffield United 'devastated' by death of long-serving 27-year-old player". Sky News. 22 September 2023.
  12. Westby, Nick (4 September 2020). "Maddy Cusack confident Neil Redfearn can take Sheffield United Women in FA Women's Superleague". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  13. Frith, Wilf (3 January 2019). "Sheffield United Women move for midfielder Maddy Cusack". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  14. "Maddy Cusack: Sheffield United Women midfielder dies aged 27". Eurosport. 22 September 2023.
  15. Holt, Chris (3 June 2021). "Maddy Cusack agrees new deal with Sheffield United Women". The Star. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  16. Jones, Steve (26 May 2022). "Maddy Cusack: Long-serving Sheffield United midfielder commits to club for another season". The Star. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  17. "Sheffield United Women 'devastated' by death of 27-year-old player Maddy Cusack". CNN. 22 September 2023.
  18. "Sheffield United Women players express shock at death of 'inspirational' vice-captain Maddy Cusack". talkSPORT. 22 September 2023.
  19. "Cusack, Stringer, McCue and Mannion called up by England". Aston Villa FC. 22 March 2013.
  20. "England squad named for UEFA Women's U19 Finals". The FA. 1 July 2014.
  21. "Madeleine Cusack". worldfootball.net.
  22. "Sheff Utd pay emotional tribute to Cusack before match". BBC Sport. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  23. "Premier League: Ten-man Nottingham Forest hold Brentford - reaction". BBC Sport. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.