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Football pays tribute to Maddy Cusack

Fans and players paid tribute to Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack, who died on Wednesday aged 27, before their men's match against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Fans lay tributes outside Bramall Lane before the match, with Sheffield United players walking out wearing shirts bearing Cusack's name and squad number (8). Members of her family joined United's women's captain Sophie Barker and former player Tony Currie to lay a wreath in the centre circle.

A minute's silence was held before kick off, with fans applauding in the eighth minute of the match to represent Cusack's squad number. Fans held up signs and flags with Cusack's name on and the club flag flew at half-mast throughout the day.

"Ahead of the Newcastle game, we will celebrate and honour the life of Maddy Cusack, a loved and respected figure of the Sheffield United family," the club said before the match. "There will forever be a void in the hearts of everyone connected to the club."

Maddy Cusack had been at the club since 2019 and became the first player to reach 100 appearances for the women's team last season. She also worked as a marketing executive at the Barclays Women's Championship club, who said they were "devastated" by her death.

She also played for Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest before joining the Blades.

The news of the popular midfielder’s sudden passing has sent shockwaves throughout the women’s game and tributes were also paid before England played Scotland at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Friday, with players from both sides wearing black armbands and a period of silence held before kick off in her memory.

This weekend's FA Women's National League fixtures between Newcastle United and Burnley, and Nottingham Forest and Liverpool Feds, were postponed due to Cusack being a former team mate of several of the players due to be involved. All remaining fixtures in the league held a minute's silence before kick off.

Sheffield United Women did not have a scheduled match this weekend because of the international break and they are due to return to action against Crystal Palace next weekend, although it remains to be seen if this match will be played.

Other leagues around the country also paid tribute to Maddy before their matches on Sunday.  

 

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