Maddy Cusack inquest hears fresh criticism of Sheffield United, PFA and club doctor over player welfare

• Maddy Cusack’s mother told the inquest her daughter had no history of mental health issues before Jonathan Morgan became Sheffield United manager.
• Sheffield United’s former club doctor denied claims he delayed a counselling referral and faced questions over missing medical records.
• The inquest also heard criticism of the PFA and FA as the Cusack family called for changes to player welfare procedures.

The inquest into the death of former Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack heard further emotional evidence on Thursday as her mother criticised the club, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Association, while Sheffield United’s former club doctor faced detailed questioning over missing medical records and player welfare.

Giving evidence at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court, Deborah Cusack described her daughter as “a happy and bright soul with a beautiful smile” and “the heart of our family,” telling the hearing Maddy had “never ever” experienced mental health problems before Jonathan Morgan was appointed Sheffield United manager in February 2023.

Addressing Morgan directly, Deborah Cusack said she did not hold him solely responsible for her daughter’s death but believed his management had significantly affected her wellbeing.

“I’m not blaming you for exactly what she did,” Deborah Cusack said.

“But you made her feel how she felt. It was the little knocks every now and again. You cut her down to size. If you hadn’t been employed, my daughter would be here today.”

The court also heard Deborah Cusack allege her daughter had asked Sheffield United club doctor Dr Raj Basu for a referral to a counsellor around two weeks before her death but had been advised it should happen “further down the line.”

Dr Basu disputed that account.

“I essentially said, ‘I can get in touch with Sporting Chance if you want me to,’” he told the inquest.

Deborah Cusack also criticised the PFA and the FA, saying more should have been done to support players after another grievance had been raised at Sheffield United during Maddy Cusack’s time at the club.

“They should have checked in on any other members at the club,” she said.

“Perhaps they need to be a little more aware of the differences between men’s and women’s football.”

She added that existing reporting procedures did not give female players enough confidence to speak out.

“Organisations such as the FA have the Integrity phone line, but I know no girl will ring it,” Deborah Cusack said.

“It is quite difficult to raise a grievance because you feel you’re going to be blacklisted or labelled as a trouble-maker. Maddy felt she couldn’t speak to the hierarchy at Sheffield. That really needs to change.”

The hearing also revisited allegations surrounding Morgan’s conduct towards Cusack during his time in charge.

Deborah Cusack claimed Morgan upset her daughter by describing her as “bottom-heavy,” something Morgan has previously said referred to her physical conditioning, and said Maddy felt “humiliated beyond belief” after Morgan referred to her partner Grace Riglar as “Mrs Cusack” in front of teammates.

Visibly emotional, Deborah Cusack challenged Morgan directly.

“Who are you to give rules when you yourself had a relationship with a player?” she asked.

A significant part of Thursday’s proceedings focused on missing medical records, which have become a key issue in the family’s case.

The Cusack family allege Morgan dropped Maddy Cusack from his first match in charge without justification, while Morgan and former Sheffield United physiotherapist Francesca Carr have maintained she was unavailable because of injury.

However, the medical records covering that period have not been located.

Dr Basu told the court the records were lost during Sheffield United’s transition between two electronic medical record systems in the summer of 2023.

“There were systematic widespread issues with this electronic records system,” Dr Basu said.

“I contacted the records provider directly regarding this on multiple occasions.”

He accepted, however, that he did not report the issue to Sheffield United until after Cusack’s death and had not informed either the Information Commissioner’s Office or investigators from the club or the FA.

The coroner raised concerns that medical records belonging to other players could also remain missing.

Dr Basu, who now works as Rotherham United’s club doctor and as the English Football League’s medical director, was also questioned about contacting the Cusack family the day after Maddy’s death regarding a request from the PFA’s head of brain health to donate her brain for research into the effects of heading in football.

The family declined the request.

The court also heard evidence about an apparent misunderstanding over Dr Basu’s final contact with Cusack.

David Cusack previously told the inquest Dr Basu had said he spoke to Maddy five days before her death.

Dr Basu denied that account.

“I can only presume that was a misunderstanding,” he said.

“I genuinely did not speak with her on that day. If I had, and she had presented with that state, I would have helped her. If I’ve contributed to that misunderstanding then I sincerely apologise to the family.”

The inquest into Maddy Cusack’s death is scheduled to continue on Friday.