In a shocking turn of events, Sheffield United is mourning the untimely death of their midfielder, Maddy Cusack. The 27-year-old had been an integral part of the team since 2019 and recently made history as the first player to reach 100 appearances for the women’s team last season. Cusack’s passing has left the club devastated, as she was not only a talented footballer but also worked as a marketing executive at the Women’s Championship club.
Stephen Bettis, the chief executive officer of Sheffield United, expressed his grief, saying, “This is heartbreaking news for everyone at Bramall Lane. Maddy had a unique position of being part of a number of teams at Sheffield United and was popular with everyone that she came into contact with. Her personality and professionalism made her a credit to her family – she will be sadly missed.”
The club is extending its full support to Cusack’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Cusack’s former clubs, including Birmingham, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest, have also paid tribute to the talented midfielder.
The Football Association (FA) is in contact with Sheffield United and offering them support in dealing with this tragedy. Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, conveyed her sympathies, saying, “On behalf of the FA, the Lionesses, the Women’s Super League, and the Women’s Championship, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Maddy’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone at Sheffield United. Maddy also represented England at age-group level, and we will pay tribute to her at an appropriate point.”
In other news, the Scotland national rugby union team has made four changes for their upcoming World Cup pool meeting with Tonga in Nice on Sunday. After a disappointing 18-3 loss to South Africa in their opening match, winger Kyle Steyn and lock Scott Cummings have been promoted from the bench. Centre Chris Harris and loose-head prop Rory Sutherland will also be handed starts by head coach Gregor Townsend. The team is determined to bounce back and make a strong statement in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, in an interview with the BBC, revealed his astonishment at being given the opportunity to manage in the Premier League. The 58-year-old, who took over Spurs after a successful stint at Celtic, has guided the club to second place in the league table with an attractive brand of football.
Reflecting on his journey, Postecoglou said, “I never thought I would get here, to be honest, not because of my ability, just because no-one was looking this way. I have ended up really late in my career, managing one of the most famous clubs in the world in Celtic and one of the biggest football clubs in the world in Tottenham. It has come late, it just took someone to look beyond the norm.”
Postecoglou further discussed his experiences from his time in a refugee camp to playing for Australia, his leadership style, and his expectations for Spurs in terms of attacking football and competing for trophies.
