MC8 Tournament

L - R: Sham, Shereen, Nic, Robbo, Marika, Claire, Vicky, Kim and Kasia

Proud Baggies took part in first ever 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 #MC8 Women's 6 a side tournament today, in memory of the late Maddy Cusack; a former midfielder for Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Leicester City, and Sheffield United who sadly took her own life late in 2023.

The event was organised by Leafield Athletic and former Albion midfielder Hayley Crackle, and Loughborough Lightning and former Forest full-back Georgia Hewitt. Yesterday saw an 11-a-side charity match held at Boldmere St Michaels in Sutton Coldfield, whilst today it was the Castle Vale Stadium’s turn to host the MC8 Tournament.

Funds raised at this weekends events go directly to The Maddy Cusack Foundation. In the Foundation’s words, they are working to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention within grassroots and professional football, and to help create opportunities for young girls and young women that will encourage them to participate in football in a supportive environment that nurtures both their playing skills and personal wellbeing.

Maddy Cusack, pictured playing for Sheffield United.

Players for the 11-a-side charity game at the Boldmere St Michaels ground.

Today’s tournament was not just a memorial to Maddy’s personality but also to her values - values that align with those here at Proud Baggies. It was a privilege to be able to take part, and it was a top effort from all of our players on what might end up being the hottest day of the year!

With so many familiar faces from across the different levels of women’s football - including some from WBA Women - it was always going to be a difficult day but our players faced the challenge head on and put in a great shift and did the badge proud.

PBFC goals: Shameka Ip ⚽️ Sarah Robinson ⚽️

Thank you to everyone at @themaddycusackfoundation for all your work and for an unforgettable day. You’ve all done Maddy proud!

Maddy’s Story:

Nottingham-born Maddy Cusack (28 October 1995 – 20 September 2023) is a familiar name in women’s football around the Midlands. Youth football saw her play for Chesterfield, Forest, and Leicester, before moving from east to west to Aston Villa where she eventually made her professional debut. In the pursuit for her senior debut she moved on to Birmingham City and then back to Leicester City, where she did finally make a smattering of first-team performances.

In 2019, Maddy moved to Sheffield United and went on to feature heavily - becoming the first woman to make 100 appearances for the club. She had a first-class honours degree in Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising from the University of Derby, and actually worked as a Marketing Executive at Sheffield United alongside playing for the club.

Following the tragic news of Maddy’s passing, her family highlighted two possible causes of her mental health deteriorating in such a short space of time:

• The pressure of workload and finances, balancing playing, training, and having to work as a player and have a day job to make ends meet;

• A notably poor relationship with manager Jonathan Morgan, whom she had been at Leicester City with prior.

Maddy’s parents, speaking to the press, pointed to February 2023 being the start of a change in her personality - coincidentally the time that Sheffield United hired Morgan as their first team coach. In the weeks before her death, Maddy - now back living with her parents and on anxiety medication - spoke to the club doctor about counselling for her mental health.

In the weeks following Maddy’s death, rumours came out about Morgan and bullying, and that it had perhaps also been the reason she left Leicester for Sheffield. After some back-and-forth, the club agreed to an independent inquiry - led by retired detective superintendent Dennis Shotton. He returned his findings in December 2023 and found no evidence of wrongdoing at Sheffield United. As such, Morgan was permitted to return to work in January of this year.

A special report into Maddy Cusack’s death in January by sports newspaper The Athletic however led to public backlash against both Morgan and Sheffield United, with the lengthy article detailing the bigger story. We would strongly recommend reading this piece by Daniel Taylor, but to summarise:

• Even in the independent report that cleared Morgan, players described him as “isolating some players, quite authoritative and intimidating”.

• The article flags up two other complaints against Morgan; one from a United player at the end of the 2022/23 season which was settled financially, and another an accusation of bullying back at Leicester City Women - a team where several of Morgan’s family are also staff members and that his father owned independently of the main club.

• Maddy was dropped by Morgan upon his arrival, with him reportedly citing her as being overweight. Testimony from former coaches and colleagues states that she was “a devoted and extremely dedicated athlete”.

• Chaplain Delroy Hall resigned from his role at United after feeling ignored by senior officials regarding his counselling services and a desire to support staff grieving in the wake of Maddy’s passing.

• The Shotton Report was riddled with spelling errors, failed to interview more than half those recommended by the Cusack family for their ties to Maddy and knowledge of her grievances, and when interviewing Maddy’s father David (himself a solicitor) Shotton didn’t record their conversation, and even referred to him in his report as a club employee rather than Maddy’s father.

Sheffield United Women finally parted ways with Jonathan Morgan as of February 2nd this year, citing new information that had been brought forward. This information was again revealed by Daniel Taylor at The Athletic days later, revealing how Morgan had began an inappropriate three-year relationship with a 17-year-old player whilst at Leicester. The player in question, and her mother, came forward to speak to both Maddy’s family and Sheffield United following the first Athletic article into Maddy’s death.

Off the back of the report’s verdict in December, the family had asked the FA to investigate, but following these two explosive articles the Football Association confirmed it has opened a formal investigation of its own and is beginning to gather evidence pertaining to the allegations.

You can help support the Maddy Cusack Foundation via the button below, with opportunities to donate and fundraise to help with their missions.

Photos from today’s tournament, courtesy of The MC8 Foundation.

Players wore the number 8 to commemorate Maddy.