Olivia Cusack says Maddy stays on her mind each day, and she’s determined her legacy lives on three years after the former England youth midfielder’s death.
Olivia, family and friends trekked 29 miles from Bramall Lane to their home in Horsley, near Derby, on Saturday to raise money and awareness, while Maddy’s loved ones still face a frustrating, confusing wait for answers about her September 20, 2023 death.
An inquest into the 27‑year‑old Sheffield United player’s death was adjourned again in July and will resume on December 7 after fresh evidence emerged. Cusack, a former England U‑19 international, was the first to reach 100 appearances for Sheffield United women’s side.
Olivia explains the Saturday walk, “Bringing Maddy Home,” was sparked by inquest evidence. “After the hearing we wanted to bring her home from Bramall Lane back to our family house,” she says, noting many remember Maddy only as the player on the shirt, the number, the colours, the club.
In my view, the walk proves sport can turn grief into purpose, reclaiming Maddy as a person, not an object lost in the chaos surrounding her death, and bringing her back home to protect her memory.
A minute’s applause will precede kickoff Sunday at the Women’s Super League 2 match between Newcastle and Sheffield United.
Olivia admits some days feel utterly draining, yet remembering who Maddy was—a lover of life, new experiences and simple joys—helps them embody her spirit beyond the anniversary.
She urges people, however hard it may be, to share photos, memories and conversations about Maddy, believing that collective effort will keep her legacy alive.
The family has already endured eight full days of evidence since the hearing began on June 29, but new documents forced a pause until December, with the coroner apologising for yet another delay; the case was previously set for a January 5, 2026 start after 2025 postponements.
“It’s been really difficult,” Olivia says of the delays. “We never expected this, it’s confusing and frustrating, the length of time is hard to process, but we know a proper outcome requires seriousness and time to reach a conclusion.”
She feels Maddy can’t rest until the inquiry ends, a thought that deeply unsettles her and underscores the need for closure.
Olivia said she would channel Maddy’s energy during the 29‑mile walk, while a group of about 15 family and friends headed the opposite way on a fundraising trek in February 2024 from Pride Park to Bramall Lane.
They set off from Sheffield at 5:30 am. A fundraising page had topped £1,100 by Saturday afternoon, a figure Olivia called “incredible – £1,000 is just amazing, far beyond what I ever expected,” adding the anniversary makes the challenge both mental and physical, driving donors’ pride.
The money supports the Maddy Cusack Foundation, which backs initiatives for women’s and girls’ football and aims to make girls visible in sport.
The foundation has provided Derby County Community Trust with bursaries for girls and families facing financial barriers to pursuing football, offering a vital helping hand.
It also partners with Ben Osborn’s Elite Football Development, inspiring youth through sport and education, sponsoring the girls’ side that blends post‑16 study with professional football training, reflecting Maddy’s passion for education.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741. In Australia, Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines are listed at befrienders.org
Olivia Cusack says her sister, the late Maddy Cusack, is on her mind every single day and she is determined to ensure her “legacy lives on” three years…