Maddy Cusack, a former player for Sheffield United, kept her mental health struggles secret due to fears of stigma and ridicule, an inquest into her death has heard.
Cusack, 27, was found deceased at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20, 2023. Her father, David Cusack, informed Chesterfield Coroner's Court that changes to her contract and a difficult reunion with a former coach had contributed to her demotivation.
He told the court that life had been made "unpleasant" for his daughter by coach Jonathan Morgan during her time playing for Leicester City. David Cusack described Morgan's demeanor as unlike anyone his daughter had previously encountered.
Cusack had been "so happy" to leave Leicester in 2019, her father stated, and was reportedly enjoying her part-time role with Sheffield United while also working full-time in the club's marketing department. According to her father, she was "the happiest she had ever been" in the Christmas period before her passing.
However, the inquest heard that Cusack expressed dismay upon learning Morgan was joining Sheffield United in February 2023. Her father also noted a change in her dietary habits, stating that she had stopped being strict about her diet. He concluded that towards the end of her life, she was "demotivated or deflated."