Maddy Cusack: Sheffield United will ‘celebrate and honour’ midfielder in tribute

Sheffield United players worse shirts with Maddy Cusack’s name and squad number on before kick-off

Fans and players paid tribute to Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack before their men’s match against Newcastle 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.

Members of Cusack’s 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.”

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 Women’s Championship club, who said they were “devastated” by her death.

Maddy Cusack’s photograph was on the front of the matchday programmeFans laid tributes to Maddy Cusack outside Bramall Lane before the match

Speaking on Friday, Sheffield United men’s manager Paul Heckingbottom said Cusack was a “big part of everything” at the club.

The cause of her death has not yet been announced.

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

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.

The Sheffield United flag flew at half-mast on SundayMembers of Maddy Cusack’s family were joined by Sheffield United women’s captain Sophie Brown (left) and former player Tony Currie to lay a wreathNewcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley laid flowers on behalf of the club