TRAGIC STRUGGLE
My daughter Maddy Cusack suffered ‘too much pressure’ juggling two jobs while getting paid just £6,000 before her death
Sheffield United are investigating following the footballer's death
THE MUM of tragic footballer Maddy Cusack says she suffered "too much pressure" juggling two jobs while getting paid just £6,000 before her death.
Deborah Cusack has spoken of the struggles Sheffield United footballer daughter Maddy endured before dying aged 27 in September.
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Maddy was concerned her future in the game felt "threatened" despite being in love with the South Yorkshire city and the club's fans, her mother told the BBC.
Her words come it was revealed her daughter felt "broken by football", as more tributes were paid.
An inquest was opened and adjourned last month at Derby Coroner’s Court, with a coroner awaiting further details about the cause of her death.
The hearing heard how it was Maddy's distraught dad who identified her body.
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Deborah has now said of her daughter: "She became Miss Sheffield United, they labelled her Miss Sheffield United.
"She fell in love with the city, she fell in love with the fans, she fell in love with the whole place, and she found her home there - yes, she did."
Maddy was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on September 20.
Tributes poured in from across the footballing world.
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Derbyshire Police said the death was not suspicious.
Sheffield United have now opened an investigation into any circumstances that might have contributed.
Deborah today told BBC Breakfast the Premier League club's inquiry came after requests from Maddy's family.
She has talked of how her daughter's well-being appeared to change from February this year onwards.
Deborah said: "She worried about her career in football, because football to her was everything - to have that threatened in any way shape or form hurt.
"Her spirit was broken - that's the best way that I can describe it to you."
I am proud of every single thing that Madeleine did
Maddy Cusack's mum Deborah
Maddy's family previously said "she had no long-standing mental health issues or trouble".
And they described her as being "at her happiest" last Christmas - before things "all changed gradually from February this year".
Deborah told of Sheffield United's women's footballers being part-time "which means they all had full-time jobs and played three times a week" for what she called "a minimal amount of money".
She added: "I think Madeleine was on £6,000 a year to play football.
"So these girls are having to juggle two jobs, they're having to train and behave like male athletes for miniscule of the amount of the money they get - it's too much."
She also described life since her daughter's death as "unimaginable" and "unbearable".
But she also recalled a memorial event when Sheffield United played Newcastle United and she was applauded by 40,000 when she walked on to the pitch to remember Maddy.
Deborah said: "I did that because I had to show the world that I was proud of every single thing that Madeleine did.
"She achieved more in her 27 years than a lot of people do in a lifetime."
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Maddy's sister Felicia has described her as a "role model", while brother Richard hailed her as a "fierce competitor", adding: "She was a very proud person."
Sheffield United declined to comment.
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