Sheffield United to hold a range of tributes against Newcastle for their longest-serving women’s player Maddy Cusack after her unexpected death

• Sheffield United will hold a range of tributes for Maddy Cusack after her death
• She was the club’s longest-serving women’s player and passed away age 27 
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Sheffield United will hold a range of tributes for the club’s longest-serving women’s player Maddy Cusack at their Premier League game against Newcastle United following the 27-year-old’s unexpected death on Wednesday.

The Blades will feature Maddy on the cover of Sunday’s match programme and Paul Heckingbottom’s team will wear black armbands in memory of the women’s team’s vice-captain who had been with them since 2019.

Discussions with her family are also being held about the most fitting way to honour Maddy properly at Bramall Lane at the match. Options include a minute’s silence before the game, applause in the eighth minute representing her shirt number, or after 27 minutes.

Cusack’s death has sent shockwaves around the south Yorkshire club whose women’s team play in the Championship.

Former United captain Billy Sharp was among the first to post a tribute on social media and at Friday’s pre-match press conference, manager Paul Heckingbottom admitted the tragedy had left a massive impact.

Sheffield United will hold a range of tributes for the club’s longest-serving women’s player Maddy Cusack, who passed away aged 27

Tributes have been paid outside Bramall Lane for the women’s team vice captain

The Blades will feature Maddy on the cover of Sunday’s match programme and Paul Heckingbottom’s team will wear black armbands in memory of the women’s team’s vice-captain

‘First and foremost, everyone’s thoughts are with Maddy’s friends and family,’ he said.

 ‘A lot of her friends worked here. She was a senior figure, everyone would see her about. It’s tough – we need to make sure everyone is OK and support each other.

‘There are plans and discussion going on about a tribute. We want to be very respectful to Maddy’s family what they would like us to do.

‘When Steve (chief exec Stephen Bettis) called me with the news, it knocked me back. As much as we are preparing for a huge game against Newcastle, it has affected a lot of people.

‘There are a lot of people suffering. We look after each other but first and first and foremost, we are thinking about her family.’

Men’s team manager Heckingbottom paid tribute to Cusack during his pre-match press conference ahead of United’s tie against Newcastle

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