Maddy Cusack's coach her 'nemesis', mum tells inquest

Image source, PA Media Image caption, Maddy Cusack was found unconscious at her home in Derbyshire in 2023 By George Torr at Chesterfield Coroner's Court Published 2 July 2026, 16:36 BST Updated 1 hour ago Former Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack would still be alive if the coach of the women's team - described in court as her "nemesis" - had not been employed, her mother has told an inquest. Maddy, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and died the same day . Chesterfield Coroner's Court heard Cusack's family had complained about the team's head coach, Jonathan Morgan - who joined the club in February 2023 - outlining issues allegedly stemming from her relationship with him. Mother Deborah Cusack said Morgan made comments about her daughter's weight and relationship to "cut her down to size" and be "in control". Under cross-examination by Morgan, who is representing himself in the inquest, Deborah said: "You need to understand I'm not blaming you for what she did, but you made her feel how she felt. "It's the little knocks every now and again. You had to come in and cut her down to size. "She was one of the best-known players [at Sheffield United]. Like you did at Leicester [City], you needed to be in control. "There's a direct line - if you hadn't been employed, Maddy would be here today." 'Bottom heavy' The court previously heard Maddy's life had been made "unpleasant" by coach Morgan while she played for Leicester City, and was "so happy to leave" in 2019 to join Sheffield United. But the inquest was told she had been "dismayed" to learn Morgan was joining the Blades in February 2023. Deborah said her daughter did not just play for the badge, but "lived and breathed" for Sheffield United. She added just before Morgan took over, Maddy became a poster girl for the club, as the Blades erected a "massive" billboard of her, which "she loved". Asked about Morgan's return, Deborah said: "Madeleine said she felt like history was repeating itself. "She was devastated, it was like her nemesis returning... we'd never come across a character like that before." The inquest heard that Morgan had called Maddy "bottom heavy" after he joined the club, which prompted her to "try to get fitter and thinner" by changing her eating habits and going on runs after training. Deborah was asked by the coroner if her daughter had mental health issues before. "Absolutely not," she said. "We had never, ever had mental health issues before. She was a bright, bubbly confident girl - she was just normal Madeleine." Image source, PA Media Image caption, Football players and supporters paid tribute to Cusack after her death The inquest has also heard from former team captain Sophie Barker , who claimed that Maddy's girlfriend Grace Riglar moving to a different club was the main reason for her mental health issues. When asked about this, Deborah said: "I need to quash that - that was an opinion of