Inquest hears ‘psycho’ slur and weight remarks on Maddy Cusack

At Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, the inquest into the death of 27‑year‑old former Sheffield United women’s player Maddy Cusack heard that her former coach Jonathan Morgan called her a ‘psycho’, criticised her weight and probed her relationship, allegations that former teammate Grace Riglar says left Cusack feeling uncomfortable.

Cusack was discovered unconscious by her father at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire on 20 September 2023. She was pronounced dead later that day.

Grace Riglar, who played alongside Cusack at Sheffield United, said Cusack felt anxious when Morgan joined the club in February 2023, recalling a prior stint with Morgan at Leicester City. Riglar recounted that Cusack told her the coach had called her a ‘psycho’ from the sideline during a match.

Riglar added that Morgan’s selection decisions—starting Cusack one week and dropping her the next—felt like a personal attack to the player. She also recalled Morgan addressing her as “Mrs Cusack” in front of teammates, which she found uncomfortable.

Morgan reportedly made comments about Cusack’s weight, prompting her to alter her diet by cutting carbohydrates, skipping breakfast and adding extra runs after training. Despite these changes, Riglar noted Cusack was already one of the fittest players in the squad.

The inquest heard that Cusack possessed a doctor’s sick note granting time off from football and her marketing job at United. She had also been prescribed anti‑anxiety medication and became paranoid at the start of the new season, lacking anyone to confide in without information reaching Morgan.

Before her death, Cusack told her girlfriend she wanted to relocate to Dubai to become a flight attendant and was searching for a new job online. She expressed that she did not want to return to playing football.

The coroner’s court indicated that the inquest into Cusack’s death will continue, examining the impact of the coach’s remarks on her mental health. The proceedings underscore the need for mental‑health support in women’s football.