During an inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, the former captain of Sheffield United’s women’s team expressed her belief that Maddy Cusack’s girlfriend relocating was the primary factor in her mental health deterioration.
Reports revealed that Cusack’s family filed a complaint against the team’s head coach, Jonathan Morgan, citing issues related to her association with him.
Tragically, Cusack was discovered unresponsive at her residence in Horsley, Derbyshire, by her father on September 20, 2023, and passed away on the same day.
Testifying on Wednesday, Sophie Barker, the team’s former captain, disclosed that she informed Cusack’s family that had Grace Riglar, Cusack’s girlfriend, not moved to a different football club from United, Cusack might still be alive.
Barker recounted, “Maddy was deeply affected upon learning Grace’s departure plans. She felt abandoned and anxious, fearing a split in their relationship. I reassured her that it was merely a move and not a breakup.”
When questioned by Dean Armstrong KC, representing Cusack’s family, Barker maintained her conviction that Grace’s relocation was the primary trigger, contrary to suggestions of Morgan’s behavior and lack of club support in balancing her football commitments with a marketing role.
According to Barker, Cusack confided in her about feeling apprehensive regarding Morgan’s arrival at United due to their past interactions at Leicester, where she found him unprofessional and deceptive.
Furthermore, Barker stated that Cusack, despite reservations, was willing to give Morgan another chance and did not discuss any issues related to him with her, suspecting that Cusack avoided confrontation.
Additional testimonies revealed that Cusack perceived Morgan’s actions as manipulative, particularly regarding her weight and relationship with Riglar.
Francesca Carr, the team’s former head physiotherapist, attested that while she did not anticipate self-harm from Cusack, she observed signs of distress, such as a poignant incident when Cusack broke down over a training ground mix-up.
The inquest highlighted Cusack’s belief that Morgan deliberately excluded her from match line-ups, a claim refuted by Carr, who cited Cusack’s injury as the reason for her absence.
Despite ongoing testimonies, the inquest is ongoing, seeking further insights into the circumstances surrounding Cusack’s tragic passing.
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