{"id":290889,"date":"2023-09-22T13:35:59","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T13:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=290889"},"modified":"2023-09-22T13:35:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T13:35:59","slug":"maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/","title":{"rendered":"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Maddy Cusack&#8217;s &#8216;broken&#8217; team-mates speak out and pay tribute to their 27-year-old &#8216;inspirational&#8217; vice-captain after her death left Sheffield United women&#8217;s squad &#8216;shocked&#8217;<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Maddy Cusack&#8217;s team-mates have paid tribute to the 27-year-old vice captain\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Sheffield United announced that the midfielder had passed away on Thursday<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Cusack was the longest-serving player in the current Sheffield United squad<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Maddy Cusack&#8217;s Sheffield United team-mates have paid tribute to the midfielder after it was announced on Thursday that she had tragically passed away.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 27-year-old, who was a popular figure among the team, had been named vice-captain of the side just last month.<\/p>\n<p>She enjoyed spells at Birmingham City and Aston Villa before signing for the Blades who currently play in the Women&#8217;s Championship in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Having spent six seasons with the Blades, Cusack became the first player to make 100 appearances for the women&#8217;s side back in February and was the longest-serving player in their current squad.<\/p>\n<p>A statement on the club&#8217;s official website read: &#8216;Sheffield United Football Club is devastated to report the sad news of the passing of Maddy Cusack.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75697875-12549341-Sheffield_United_midfielder_Maddy_Cusack_has_died_at_the_age_of_-a-10_1695385798649.jpg\" height=\"855\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack has died at the age of 27, the club have announced<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75727473-12549341-image-a-8_1695385742661.jpg\" height=\"794\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The former talented midfielder had just started her sixth season with the club being named vice-captain earlier this year\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75727591-12549341-image-a-16_1695385971351.jpg\" height=\"793\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Tributes have been coming in for the Sheffield United midfielder from her team-mates\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Maddy, a women&#8217;s team player since January 2019 and marketing executive for the Football Club, passed away on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;A respected player, Maddy, 27, last season reached the milestone of 100 appearances for Sheffield United Women.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Additionally, she was a valued colleague in the offices at Bramall Lane, moving over from the Sheffield United Community Foundation to the club in 2021 to help market all areas of the Blades.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Tributes have been coming in for the Sheffield United midfielder, with her brother saying: &#8216;My beautiful sister. May you rest in peace Maddy.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Her Blades&#8217; team-mates have also been speaking on their colleague, with\u00a0goalkeeper Beth Davies writing on Twitter that she was:\u00a0&#8216;Heartbroken.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;There aren&#8217;t words to say how much you&#8217;ll be missed, Mads,&#8217; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Defender Molly Graham wrote: &#8216;Absolutely devastating news. Such a great person and team-mate. You will be missed hugely! Rest in peace Mads.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Cusack had also worked as a marketing executive with the Blades and had also signed a new contract extension with the club in January, saying:\u00a0&#8216;I think everyone knows how much I love this club. This club is my home.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte Newsham also wrote on Twitter: &#8216;Beyond broken and shocked to have lost a team-mate and good friend. We will miss you so much Mads.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sophie Haywood, who joined the club in 2022 and also played in midfield, posted several pictures of herself and Cusack on her social media channels while writing: &#8216;Heartbroken and beyond words.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I hope you know the impact you have had on me and so many others on and off the pitch. A true professional and such a genuine person. You are loved by many and will be so so missed Mads. Rest easy MC8.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Fran Stenson also posted a photo of her team-mate, writing: &#8216;I&#8217;ll always remember the good times we&#8217;ve had together. Gone far too soon. I hope we do you proud Maddy. May you rest in peace.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75726811-12549341-image-a-26_1695386062274.jpg\" height=\"329\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75726809-12549341-image-a-25_1695386060267.jpg\" height=\"306\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75726813-12549341-image-a-24_1695386046756.jpg\" height=\"1136\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75726815-12549341-image-a-23_1695386045029.jpg\" height=\"1126\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75726819-12549341-image-a-22_1695386043053.jpg\" height=\"1123\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75727909-12549341-image-a-30_1695386753716.jpg\" height=\"306\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/22\/13\/75727907-12549341-image-a-29_1695386751536.jpg\" height=\"332\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Her team-mates, including Sophie Haywood, Tara Bourne, Charley Docherty, Beth Davies and Molly Graham have all paid tribute to the midfielder on social media<\/p>\n<p>Ashley Hodson wrote: &#8216;RIP Maddy, a genuine soul. My thoughts are with Maddy&#8217;s family at this time. You will be missed.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>While Rachel Brown, who signed for Sheffield United in 2022, said: &#8216;Absolutely devastating news. A great team-mate and an even better person.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Sending all my love to Maddy&#8217;s family and friends. Fly high Mads, love Brown Pants.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Football Association is also in contact with Sheffield United over an appropriate tribute to Cusack, with England&#8217;s Lionesses, who are scheduled to play against Scotland on Friday, set to show their respects to Cusack.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Baroness Sue Campbell said that that organisation was offering it&#8217;s support to the football club.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;On behalf of the FA, the Lionesses, the Women&#8217;s Super League and the Women&#8217;s Championship, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Maddy&#8217;s family, friends, team-mates and everyone at Sheffield United,&#8217; the FA&#8217;s director of women&#8217;s football said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cusack&#8217;s team-mate Charley Docherty also spoke of how as an academy player she had &#8216;looked up to Cusack&#8217;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She wrote on social media: &#8216;When I was 16, Maddy was the player that all us girls from the academy looked up to.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;It&#8217;s been an honour to call her my team-mate and my friend. An amazing person who was an inspiration to all the little girls and boys who come to the Lane. RIP Mads. You will be forever missed.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Blades&#8217; defender Tara Bourne also wrote on social media: &#8216;Lost for words. The most beautiful and kind soul, taken far too soon. May you rest in peace, Mads.&#8217;\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/article-12549341\/Maddy-Cusacks-broken-team-mates-speak-pay-tribute-27-year-old-inspirational-vice-captain-death-left-Sheffield-United-womens-squad-shocked.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maddy Cusack&#8217;s &#8216;broken&#8217; team-mates speak out and pay tribute to their 27-year-old &#8216;inspirational&#8217; vice-captain after her death left Sheffield United women&#8217;s squad &#8216;shocked&#8217; Maddy Cusack&#8217;s team-mates have paid tribute to the 27-year-old vice captain\u00a0 Sheffield United announced that the midfielder had passed away on Thursday Cusack was the longest-serving player in the current Sheffield United [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":290888,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Maddy Cusack&amp;apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maddy Cusack&amp;apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Maddy Cusack&#8217;s &#8216;broken&#8217; team-mates speak out and pay tribute to their 27-year-old &#8216;inspirational&#8217; vice-captain after her death left Sheffield United women&#8217;s squad &#8216;shocked&#8217; Maddy Cusack&#8217;s team-mates have paid tribute to the 27-year-old vice captain\u00a0 Sheffield United announced that the midfielder had passed away on Thursday Cusack was the longest-serving player in the current Sheffield United [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sports Life Tale\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Robert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Maddy-Cusacks-Sheffield-United-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Robert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/\",\"name\":\"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Soccer\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/category\/soccer\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/\",\"name\":\"Sports Life Tale\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609\",\"name\":\"Robert\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Robert\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale","og_description":"Maddy Cusack&#8217;s &#8216;broken&#8217; team-mates speak out and pay tribute to their 27-year-old &#8216;inspirational&#8217; vice-captain after her death left Sheffield United women&#8217;s squad &#8216;shocked&#8217; Maddy Cusack&#8217;s team-mates have paid tribute to the 27-year-old vice captain\u00a0 Sheffield United announced that the midfielder had passed away on Thursday Cusack was the longest-serving player in the current Sheffield United [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/","og_site_name":"Sports Life Tale","article_published_time":"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00","author":"Robert","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_image":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Maddy-Cusacks-Sheffield-United-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain.jpg","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Robert","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/","url":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/","name":"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain - Sports Life Tale","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-22T13:35:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/maddy-cusacks-sheffield-united-team-mates-pay-tribute-to-vice-captain\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Soccer","item":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/category\/soccer\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Maddy Cusack&apos;s Sheffield United team-mates pay tribute to vice-captain"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/","name":"Sports Life Tale","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/74db1979fe71b5ea01513ec1ce5bc609","name":"Robert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7cef2e0d8d634cb49d54f7c48b549a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Robert"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290889"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=290889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/290888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=290889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=290889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}