Find information and view all council services Our customer self-service portal and other online services How you can connect with us and get involved Our Local Plan identifies sites for new development around Baldock These are expected to provide more than 3,000 homes as well as new employment land and supporting infrastructure Hertfordshire County Council own these sites They are working with Urban & Civic to deliver the ‘Growing Baldock’ scheme BA3 and BA10 of the Local Plan and other areas of the land Our Local Plan policies include specific requirements for these sites There are also policies about these sites in the Baldock, Bygrave and Clothall Neighbourhood Plan Residents approved this plan in a local referendum held in 2021 Urban & Civic held public consultation events about the Growing Baldock project in March and November 2023 This included public exhibitions at Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre They have also held discussions with residents and interest groups Urban and Civic have set up a Growing Baldock website This further information including a summary of the consultations and what they have done in response The Growing Baldock masterplan is being finalised It will be considered by councillors in March 2025 the masterplan will then be presented to Full Council in the summer to be adopted We expect Urban & Civic to submit a planning application later in 2025 The masterplan and the committee report are available to view on the Cabinet agenda The masterplan has been informed by the following documents which are available to view through the links below: Four brave travellers from Baldock are setting out on a 24-mile walk at 5am on Monday morning aiming to join the 3pm Easter Monday Pilgrimage service at St Albans Cathedral to raise important funds for their church hall which was badly damaged by vandalism last summer are to set out on a 24-mile walk (just shy of a marathon) from their church walking down to St Albans Cathedral on Monday 21 April as part of the Easter Monday Pilgrimage they will aim to be at the cathedral for the 3pm service joining with hundreds of other pilgrims who will also make their way joining together for the Easter Monday celebrations The group of four represent St Mary’s Church who are raising funds to restore damage to the church hall and church grounds which were damaged due to vandalism in July 2024 The hall is a place of great support to the local community as it opens its doors every week to both the Foodbank and Food Angels and was badly affected last year The funds raised will be used for Phase 1 of the hall restoration project which will include replacing the damaged windows and doors theatre and music groups and events.  Our valiant volunteers were determined to get the hall reopened as quickly as possible and we were back up and running within a few days.  the windows that had been smashed were so badly damaged that major building work was required to fully repair them.  When we started thinking about this project we felt that we wanted to do more than just to put things back the way they were.  The attack on the building has highlighted what a valuable resource it is for the community.  As a church we decided to use this opportunity to refurbish the church hall and bring it up to date.  Our goals are to improve the sustainability safety and welcome provided by the building in order to better meet the needs of the community You can read the stories as the news broke in July 2024 from the church website here and the BBC news here Norbert and Isa are looking forward to their walk and hoping for good weather on the day Two of them spoke to us about how they were feeling about the adventure: “I really enjoyed walking from Hatfield last year [as part of the Easter Monday Pilgrimage] there’s so much to be grateful for and I find peace there (often literally) So I guess that planted the seed that I would like to try and walk from St Mary’s The fundraising opportunity is secondary for me.” “When Laura suggested I may wish to join her on the pilgrimage from Baldock to St Alban’s I leapt at the chance as I love walking and was keen to embrace the challenge.  As I am also on the Church Hall Project team it seemed the ideal opportunity to raise funds to on the restoration project to repair the damage from the vandalism last summer.  We thought we would raise a couple of hundred pounds but we’ve already made over £700 in the first few days we’ve had lots of messages of support from our local community Find out more about their fundraising efforts here We wish the walkers all the very best and a successful fundraising campaign and restoration of their church hall around a thousand pilgrims gather together at St Albans Cathedral for a joyful pilgrimage and service that brings people together from across the Diocese children and even dogs (muddy boots welcome) If you haven’t joined in before maybe this is a year to consider taking part and you can even look out for the brave travellers from Baldock A state-appointed coroner who conducted an initial examination of Baldock’s body at the apartment, less than half an hour’s drive from the centre of Athens, reported no signs of bruising or other wounds. But it was unclear whether the 31-year-old was alone or if his death had been triggered by “sudden collapse”. Read moreThe full-back, who was born in England and had Greek roots on his father’s side, qualifying for the national team through a grandmother, moved to the Greek capital after signing for Panathinaikos in the summer “He was found lifeless at the bottom of the pool and pronounced dead at 22.38 last night [Wednesday],” a police source involved in the inquiry told the Guardian The initial findings were supported by the results on Thursday of a postmortem conducted at the University of Athens’ hospital mortuary Forensic scientists were quoted as saying they believed Baldock had been dead “for five hours” before his body was discovered by the owner of the first-floor apartment who jumped over a fence to access the property The man had been asked to look for the footballer by Baldock’s concerned partner who had remained in England with the couple’s young son after her repeated telephone calls had gone unanswered Panathinaikos fans streamed to the Glyfada apartment building on Thursday to pay tribute who last played for the team against their great rivals Olympiakos in the Super League on Sunday had won the respect of fellow players and was described as being “much loved” ShowDownload the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.If you already have the Guardian app make sure you’re on the most recent version.In the Guardian app then Notifications.Turn on sport notifications.Was this helpful?Thank you for your feedback.A police investigation launched within minutes of his body being discovered “An investigation is now being carried out,” said a senior police official “Witness statements have been taken from neighbours and footage from CCTV cameras around the building will be inspected That is the question we all want to answer.” The Football Association said there would be a period of silence before Thursday’s Nations League match between England and Greece at Wembley and that players of both sides would wear black armbands “It is impossible for us to believe that our beloved friend is no longer with us,” the Greece players said in statement posted under a group picture with him on X Tonight we shall try and reach the strength of his soul Baldock’s family said: “We are heartbroken with the sudden passing of our beloved George Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those that were fortunate enough to know you and those that adored you from the stands “We will forever cherish the special memories we have of you and you will continue to live on in your beautiful son You were due to fly home today for us to celebrate his first birthday together “As a family it has been incredibly touching but equally so very difficult to read the huge number of tributes written by those that knew George and from those whose life he touched We ask that you please continue to respect our privacy at this devastating time as we begin to process our grief.” In March last year a new style of bench and seat was approved for Baldock to replace the current street furniture which is in poor structural condition with mould and decay We would now like your feedback on the proposed type and location for Baldock’s new benches and seats before we progress to the next stage please read this which gives you the background on our proposals: Have your say by completing our survey before midnight on 4 March 2025 If you’d like to send us any additional thoughts, please email: towncentres@north-herts.gov.uk You can subscribe to get news and service updates by email you can choose which topics you’re interested in and you can unsubscribe at any time A brand-new outdoor gym has been installed at Avenue Park providing residents with a fantastic opportunity to get fit in the fresh air – for free The outdoor gym features a variety of high-quality fitness equipment Each piece of equipment has instructions available either nearby or via a handy QR code making it easy for users of all fitness levels to get started North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Leisure said: “We’re thrilled to open another outdoor gym in North Herts giving people the chance to exercise outdoors at their own pace and convenience We hope the new equipment at Avenue Park will encourage more residents to enjoy the benefits of outdoor fitness whether they’re just starting out or looking to enhance their existing routine With the addition of these new outdoor gyms and our upcoming fitness classes we’re making it even easier for residents to incorporate exercise into their daily lives We encourage everyone to give it a try – it’s a great way to stay healthy and enjoy our beautiful green spaces.” Everyone Active area contract activity and wellbeing manager said: "We're excited that the Council is bringing these fantastic outdoor fitness facilities to the Baldock community The equipment will provide a wonderful opportunity for people of all fitness levels to enjoy exercise in the fresh air without any cost barriers Our team is looking forward to launching our timetable of guided exercise classes to help residents make the most of these facilities Outdoor fitness offers unique benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing and we encourage everyone to come along and discover how these new facilities can enhance their health journey." similar equipment has been installed at Baldock Road Recreation Ground in Letchworth and King George V Recreation Ground in Hitchin further expanding opportunities for local people to stay active Everyone Active’s Health and Wellbeing team is preparing a Spring/Summer timetable of exercise classes at outdoor gyms across the district These sessions will be featured on North Herts Community Outreach – Everyone Active which already hosts information on their current activities For more information about upcoming classes, visit www.everyoneactive.com/centre/north-herts-community-outreach Community grants have been agreed* for four groups in Southern Rural and one in Baldock Christchurch Baldock was awarded £1,560 for their Body & Soul group which provides total fitness for retired people holding 1.5 hour sessions at Baldock Community Centre The sessions include chair exercises for the body exercise games for the brain and social opportunities to chat and have a coffee The grant will be used to cover the cost of an instructor for 39 weeks in 2025 Cassel Hall Trust was awarded £2,000 towards the replacement of the boiler at Cassel Memorial Hall which it manages in Lilley The hall is well used by a variety of groups including yoga Once the current boiler has come to the end of its life it will be replaced by a modern and more efficient one allowing the hall to be continually used and have lower running costs Pirton JoyCare was awarded £870 towards the running costs of their services supporting older people in the community The charity provides a safe environment for around 80 individuals to find companionship combat loneliness and enhance their wellbeing by encouraging them to remain active and engaged with their local community The money will be used to help provide the service as well as utilise their minibus which allows them to help people with transport to medical appointments collection of prescriptions and home visits Preston Parish Council was awarded £594 towards a defibrillator cabinet to be fitted on the outside wall of their pavilion At the moment the defibrillator is located inside the pavilion The defibrillator is a vital resource in an emergency because of the rural nature of Preston and the distance and time required for ambulances to reach the village The Living Theatre Whitwell was awarded £2,000 towards the running of an outdoor art trail project wants to expand on the success of their art trail in 2024 the trail – in situ from May to September - will start a central village location go through footpaths and end at their theatre space The funding requested will support materials for the artists audio recording costs to bring the trail to life online an event co-ordinator role and gardening fees to keep footpaths and areas clear during the trail It will also cover the cost of two free places in each of three workshops to encourage community participation funding will support a workshop with the local primary school Executive Member for Community & Partnerships who approved the funding under delegated decision said: “These groups are providing important services to our communities From young people playing football and the exciting return of Whitwell art trail to supporting older people in rural villages which significantly increases someone’s chance of survival if used before an ambulance arrives.” The next Baldock Community Forum will take place on 3 March and for Southern Rural on 13 March *subject to completion of the necessary formalities Greek-British soccer player George Baldock died as a result of drowning a coroner at the University of Athens confirmed on Thursday after conducting an autopsy was found dead in the swimming pool of his home in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada on Wednesday night He is believed to have been in the water for at least five hours before his body was discovered by police dispatched to the property after his landlord reported being called by the soccer player’s wife as she had been trying unsuccessfully to reach him on the telephone for several hours and was concerned for his safety More details about what may have caused the young athlete to drown are expected to emerge from toxicology tests since no signs of foul play were found at the scene or on the body British-born Baldock plied his trade since the summer at Panathinaikos He was not known to have had any particular health problems but this time he did not form part of the squad that is in London for the UEFA Nations League game against England on Thursday in 1993 and obtained Greek nationality through his grandmother Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock drowned while swimming in a pool at his home in Athens The England-born Greece international’s death was confirmed on Wednesday night at the age of 31. “We are heartbroken with the sudden passing of our beloved George We can confirm that a post-mortem examination has found that George tragically drowned whilst swimming in the pool at his home in Glyfada Athens,” a statement from Baldock’s family read We will forever cherish the special memories we have of you and you will continue to live on in your beautiful son With England playing Greece in the Nations League on Thursday evening players from both nations wore black armbands and held a one-minute silence before kick-off as a tribute to Baldock Greece’s players also held up Baldock’s No 2 shirt as a mark of respect after they opened the scoring at Wembley Stadium through Vangelis Pavlidis in the 49th minute Baldock joined Greek side Panathinaikos in the summer after seven years at Sheffield United Sheffield United expressed their shock and sadness at Baldock’s passing speaking of his popularity among supporters and staff during his time at the club The Championship side released a statement on Wednesday extending condolences to Baldock’s family and friends Having joined Sheffield United from MK Dons in 2017, Baldock made more than 200 appearances for South Yorkshire side, helping the team secure two promotions to the Premier League His contributions included a standout performance in the 2019-20 season when they achieved their highest top-flight position where Baldock’s brother Sam is a pathway development coach Baldock, who qualified to represent Greece through his grandmother, earned 12 caps for his country. His last international appearance was in March, during a European Championship play-off match against Georgia George Baldock - the Steel City's adopted son - epitomised the Sheffield United fairytale Omar Garrick is a Junior Editor for The Athletic UK, based in London. He previously worked at BBC Sport and The Manchester Evening News. Omar is a journalism graduate from Cardiff University and the University of Sheffield. Follow Omar on Twitter @GarrickOmar British artist Jonathan Baldock creates a magical and immersive exhibition at ‘0.1%’ at London's Mithraum Bloomberg Space Jonathan Baldock crafts wild magic in his immersive exhibitions. Working primarily with clay and natural textiles, the British artist weaves together pagan traditions, expressive natural forms, and the deep connection he shares with the women in his family. For ‘0.1%’ at London Mithraum Bloomberg Space he challenges the patriarchal roots of this former Roman Temple which was built to worship the macho god of justice and war A four-metre-tall mother-goddess figure towers over the exhibition 'The divine feminine predates the temple of Mythras,' Baldock tells me when we meet in his east London studio ahead of the opening divine feminine goddess figures were knocked to the side by warrior societies.' His idol is powerfully built cloaked in a long coat covered in swirling vines and flowers 'It looks like a giant could have made it,' he considers The head is based on a sculpture the artist made of his mother when he was a child; he has scaled it up in bronze 'I remember making this figure from earth dug out of the back garden Kent soil is claylike; it’s raw and sticky I remember feeling very proud.' The new head is both endearing and intimidating; Baldock was keen to embrace this duality 'I was a queer kid in a single parent family until she married my stepfather It would be very easy to make it all cheesy and cosy but I wanted to show the hard-working person who held down multiple jobs and could be terrifying as well.' The mother-goddess sits at the centre of a grid of poles which create a maze-like viewing experience and capture Baldock’s childhood memories of hop gardens 'There’s a feeling you get in these spaces which is a bit like a forest I like the idea that it’s not an easy path through.' The use of coppice which involves cutting lengths of wood but never killing the plant reflects the artist’s interest in traditional farming techniques which have a symbiotic relationship with nature Amongst the poles is a selection of ceramics and textiles covered in luscious images of bees as well as his mother’s favourite flowers: bluebells and snowdrops mirroring parental keepsakes and DNA which runs through generations Baldock’s mother created a heart sculpture and rendering of the artist’s head from Kent soil There is also an ambient soundscape created with Baldock’s frequent collaborator Luke Barton The title comes from the minute genetic difference that exists amongst all humans: 0.1% 'At the centre of the work is my belief that most humans are good,' he tells me We need to be constantly reminded of our similarities the amount of DNA we share is so huge in comparison to what separates us.' the amount of DNA we share is so huge in comparison to what separates us These ideas feed into Baldock’s upcoming solo exhibition at Edinburgh’s Jupiter Artland Baldock is creating textile and ceramic animal sculptures inspired by vintage soft toy manuals and based on creatures that have been observed to have same-sex relationships Animals such as penguins will be shown in hybrid with mythological creatures inspired by Sacha Coward’s ‘Queer as Folklore’ which positions the old Norse word ‘wyrd’ as a special otherness that is connected with ancient goddesses ideas around what was ‘normal’ were impressed through the natural world,” says Baldock “This recent scientific focus on same sex relationships between animals hit a chord It’s a middle finger up to the idea of not being ‘as you’re supposed to be’ escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Jonathan Baldock's ‘0.1%’ at London Mithraum Bloomberg Space runs until 5 July 2025 londonmithraeum.com By JAMES COHEN Former Sheffield United cult hero Baldock - who was born in England but played international football for Greece since 2022 - was found dead in a swimming pool at his home near Athens on October 9 He had been playing for Panathinaikos since joining the 20-time Greek champions from the Blades in May but remained a fans' favourite back home Others paying their respects to the defender affectionately nicknamed 'Starman' and 'Furious George' included Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and Baldock's former Blades teammate Oliver McBurnie. Dele Alli (right) was among the mourners at George Baldock's funeral on Wednesday afternoon The former England star bowed his head as he paid tribute to his former MK Dons team-mate Former Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson was also in attendance on the day Pallbearers pictured carrying the coffin of Baldock at the ceremony in Milton Keynes Baldock - who made over 400 appearances in English football - was found dead in a swimming pool at his home near Athens on October 9 Baldock made more than 400 appearances in English football and spent seven seasons with Sheffield United until this summer, winning two promotions. He was found unresponsive in his pool after his partner, who was in the UK, reportedly raised the alarm because he was not answering his phone.  Police investigating the drowning of the 31-year-old recovered CCTV showing him in the pool at his Greek luxury apartment, as sources said it showed him swimming vigorously, before suddenly stopping and then sinking. The CCTV from a neighbouring property captured half the pool and showed him entering the water at about 6.45 in the evening, hours before his body was found. Baldock's family released a statement, revealing the footballer was due to fly home to celebrate his son's first birthday - and describing how they now 'mourn his loss'. Paying tribute, they addressed Baldock, saying: 'You were the most special father, fiancé, son, brother, uncle, friend, teammate and person. 'Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those that were fortunate enough to know you and those that adored you from the stands'. Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder also attended the funeral at Crown Hill Crematorium Billy Sharp, accompanied by his wife, was spotted making his way into the ceremony Ex-Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie - now of Las Palmas - made the trip to attend the event The scene where Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool in Athens, Greece Baldock was living in this property in the Greek capital after a move to club giant Panathinaikos The footballer moved to Greek club Panathinaikos and was found dead in his swimming pool The family went on to say 'it was impossible not to love him', as they asked members of the public for privacy at this 'devastating time'. England and Greece paid an emotional tribute to Baldock ahead of their Nations League match at Wembley earlier this month.  Players from both teams observed a minute's silence before the match at Wembley. A shirt with Baldock's name was held up by the Greek national team as part of the touching tribute ahead of kick-off. Earlier this month, Dele paid tribute to Baldock - his colleague at MK Dons between 2011 and 2015 - via an emotional post on social media.  He wrote on Instagram: 'No words I could type or pictures I could use would ever be enough. 'May your spirit, ambition, determination and humility live on through those who had the honour of knowing you! I love you brother and will miss you forever!  'My thoughts, prayers and heart goes out to your family. Rest in peace Balders.' Dele Alli has posted an emotional tribute to his former team-mate Baldock earlier this month Baldock's former team-mate Henderson stood on the touchline during a minutes' silence before England's match against Greece earlier this month Meanwhile, Henderson - who played with Baldock at Sheffield United -  stood on the touchline and paid his respects during a minute's silence for Baldock prior to that clash between England and Greece earlier this month. Baldock was born in Buckinghamshire and played more than 400 times in English football but earned 12 caps for Greece after qualifying through his grandmother the Hellenic Football Federation said: 'With deep sadness and pain the National Team and the Hellenic Football Federation say goodbye to George Baldock 'There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the untimely loss of one of our young people The family of Panathinaikos mourns his untimely death We stand by the family and relatives of George Baldock.' formerly Twitter: 'Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player tributes were laid for ex-Sheffield United star Baldock outside Bramall Lane Baldock was known as 'Starman' by supporters who sung an ode to him at matches to the tune of the David Bowie hit 'The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him 'The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.' His boyhood club MK Dons said they were 'devastated' to hear the news of his loss in a statement - describing how Baldock 'will always be one of our own' The comments below have been moderated in advance By posting your comment you agree to our house rules Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group INVESTIGATORS have made a major breakthrough in the hunt for a woman who was killed 50 years ago The so-called "Baldock Woman" died while walking barefoot on the A1 outside the market town of Baldock in Hertfordshire on February 18 Her life and the circumstances surrounding her death have largely remained a mystery, but investigators have now released a picture of what she may have looked like as well as her name She was last seen walking without shoes just outside the historic town before she was hit by at least one vehicle It is not thought she had been barefoot for long as the soles of her feet were not dirty Volunteers working with Locate International, a charity which investigates cold cases have been communicating with a couple who may have know the woman at the time she was killed The couple said she was a French national between 23 and 25 who went by the name of either Anna or Odile Investigators then pored through local news archives and found an article which mentioned the name Odile Ledoux who matched the description from November 25, 1972 in the Cambridge Evening News. A charity spokesman said: "This is potentially a major development in the investigation and we would appeal to anyone who recognises the name to come forward. we will continue to investigate all leads." "Baldock Woman" stayed with the couple in the early 70s and they said she was a regular at the Stotfold Social Club near Baldock and worked at an industrial estate in nearby Henlow Bedfordshire before travelling to study at a language school in Cambridge The article stated Odile Ledoux was an English student at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology The team working on the case believe she was from or had lived in the north of Paris and had friends in Newquay the charity's chief executive officer we are confident that someone out there can help provide the one important clue that can help us reunite Baldock Woman with her identity so we are eager for people to come forward before it is too late our volunteers have worked diligently to identify Baldock Woman Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ on the edge of the promenade in this quiet Athens suburb a waiter is busy laying the tables for lunch and the sun is breaking through the clouds as a steady stream of people stroll by on the seafront Glyfada is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Athens, but the relaxed pace of life feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle in the heart of the Greek capital There are fishing boats gently swaying in the marina and children dipping their toes in the water The town has been described as Athens’ best-kept secret and it’s easy to see why George Baldock was attracted to the idea of living here after swapping Sheffield United for Panathinaikos in the summer His apartment is directly opposite Astakos it is also where he was found dead last week Baldock drowned in his swimming pool in circumstances that remain a mystery Police have ruled out any criminal activity at the property but an investigation into exactly what happened on Wednesday October 9 is ongoing and unlikely to end anytime soon Toxicology reports could take as long as 45 days to come back meaning that there are more questions than answers right now where the profound sense of sadness among those who spent time in Baldock’s company reflects the way that he connected with a country that became his adopted home Born in England and a product of the MK Dons academy Baldock qualified to play for Greece through his late grandmother He won 12 caps since making his debut in June 2022 and cherished every one of them the doorway to his apartment in Glyfada is filled with flowers and messages that tell a very different story your Athens Blade,” reads one card — a reference to the David Bowie song that Sheffield United fans dedicated to Baldock as he was “running down the right” which is accompanied by a drawing of Baldock’s No 2 shirt peers out of the top of a bouquet of lilies “Yesterday” was Thursday, October 10, 24 hours after Baldock passed away and the same day that Greece beat England 2-1 at Wembley in the Nations League It was also when Baldock was due to fly home to England to celebrate his son Brody’s first birthday His passing is a heartbreaking story in so many ways and it’s impossible to imagine what Baldock’s family — in particular his fiancee Annabel and his brothers Sam and James — have been going through over the past week or so Baldock’s team-mates — past and present — have found it difficult enough Listening to them talking about him is extremely moving and anguish and disbelief in their voices as they try to make sense of a story that makes no sense at all Several of them attempted to call Baldock that Wednesday night because they refused to accept the awful news that they were hearing was true Some still wake up in the morning waiting for the video call that never comes “I still feel his presence,” Erik Palmer-Brown the Panathinaikos and former USMNT defender His locker was right next to mine; it still is Sotiris Souchleris was waiting outside the VIP gate at the Olympic Stadium in Athens Panathinaikos had drawn 0-0 at home against Olympiacos and Souchleris who is a journalist for the Greek sport website Pao Pantou was hoping to speak to one or two of the players A couple of them had politely declined when he saw Baldock approaching hoping rather than expecting Baldock would stop Souchleris quickly set up his camera and pressed record He remembers thinking that Baldock looked a little tired as well as a bit disappointed that Panathinaikos had failed to beat Olympiacos But there was also a lot of positivity in Baldock’s voice when he talked about his performance and the future will know that’s a lot more like me,” Baldock told Souchleris “It’s been unfortunate I got a very bad injury with the national team and this is the first time I feel more like myself.” shook hands and said goodbye,” Souchleris adds “It was the first and the last time we spoke.” Although Baldock made just four appearances for Panathinaikos and only signed in July he was already a hugely popular figure inside the club Some of the Panathinaikos squad had known him for a couple of years ever since he was called up to the Greece squad for the first time Others immediately warmed to a man who always had a smile on his face “The day he walked into our pre-season (camp) in Austria he sat next to me at the lunch table and I just felt his English energy,” Palmer-Brown says “I’ve been in England before (with Manchester City) so I knew I would click on with his banter But he just made everything easier — he was an open book he would throw a little joke out there to make you feel welcome we have a bunch of different nationalities at the club and to see him mix in with any group of people and that’s one of the reasons why I know everyone loves him.” Baldock got on well with all the players at Panathinaikos but he was close to five or six team-mates in particular who spent time at the apartment in Glyfada playing Uno with Baldock and his fiancee and meeting his mother-in-law-to-be was one of those players and the Iceland international Hordur Magnusson was another A former Bristol City player Magnusson had played against Baldock in the Championship in England and was delighted when he heard that he was signing for Panathinaikos He rated Baldock as a player and he knew people in England who spoke highly of him as a team-mate when Baldock was still trying to sort out a lease car Magnusson drove him back and forth to training and also helped his family settle into their apartment in Glyfada I went straight to Zara Home (around the corner from the property) and the other stores with George to buy everything for the house so that Annabel and Brody could just take it easy and enjoy the days,” he says Magnusson shrugs when it’s put to him that it was a nice thing for him to do for Baldock “I knew that George would have done the same for me,” he replies The two of them were the same age and both had young children but Baldock was operating on a totally different body clock to Magnusson “He was the type of player who went to sleep early and woke up early laughing about the phone calls he would receive before his alarm had gone off do you want to come to eat something now?’ I’d say let me sleep a little bit more and then we can go!’” Baldock reported for treatment after picking up a slight knock in the Olympiacos game who has been recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury that he suffered last season remembers Baldock walking into the physio’s room and giving him a warm embrace Baldock did some light running outside in the sunshine Palmer-Brown and the Swedish forward Alexander Jeremejeff had already finished training and sat on the grass watching Baldock before all three got in the sauna together “It was his son’s birthday,” Palmer-Brown explains “And we always have this inside joke about ‘Father of the Year; I don’t have a kid but they (Baldock and Jeremejeff) do and that’s when he told us he had a flight home the next day after training.” Baldock got a lift back to his apartment with Bart Schenkeveld a 33-year-old Dutchman who was one of the last people to have any contact with him Trying to work out exactly what happened next is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle that has some of the pieces missing Baldock’s fiancee Annabel became concerned that something wasn’t right She had been unable to get in touch with her partner and reached out for help “So she called the landlord and asked him to go to the property,” Andreas Vlachopoulos who brokered the rental agreement for the apartment with Baldock in the summer Nothing could have prepared anyone for what followed he found him drowned in the pool,” Vlachopoulos says they received a phone call from the landlord shortly after 10pm on Wednesday The first officers on the scene at the apartment removed Baldock from the pool to check whether he was still alive that he had been in the water for some time When an ambulance arrived shortly afterwards medics performed their own checks and Baldock was pronounced dead at 10.25pm The Panathinaikos players quickly found out the news “I got a call from Magnusson asking if I knew his fiancee’s number because I’d hung out with them,” Palmer-Brown says He (Magnusson) said he was going to the property now — he lived pretty close to Baldock ‘I’m going to call Baldock.’ So I phoned him Then I called Magnusson again when he got there the Greek newspaper Proto Thema reported online that there had been an incident involving Baldock and a swimming pool the story had been updated to say that Baldock was dead who were training on Wednesday night at Wembley in preparation for their Nations League game against England the following evening returned to the dressing room to see a flurry of messages and missed calls on their phones Some of Baldock’s team-mates responded incredulously assuming there was a terrible misunderstanding Others convinced themselves that Baldock had just fainted and that everything would be fine a former Sheffield United teammate who is now playing for Las Palmas in Spain was so certain that it wasn’t true that he did the same thing as Palmer-Brown and called Baldock who had spoken to Baldock earlier in the day the people who were sure to know the truth confirmed the worst possible news A number of Panathinaikos staff and players — Schenkeveld Ruben Perez and Tonny Vilhena among them — went to Baldock’s apartment that evening and waited outside “I went there to try to help because I didn’t believe that George was dead,” he says “I thought that they (the emergency services) could still help and revive him But when I saw 20 police guys on motorbikes outside his house A team of detectives from two separate police units were called in to take fingerprints and check for any other DNA But there was no evidence of any disturbance or signs that anything had been tampered with inside the property and a forensic scientist quickly ruled out any criminal activity A bottle of some description was found at the apartment but the significance of either is unclear and also easy to overanalyse without any context Several news outlets in Greece reported that alcohol had been found at the property — something that Vlachopoulos had mentioned in an earlier interview — but police have neither confirmed nor denied that is the case Football was the last thing on anyone’s mind at Panathinaikos Thursday’s training session was cancelled but the club still wanted everyone to report to the training ground addressed all the staff and players in a meeting that lasted no longer than 10 minutes George Baldock is no longer with us…’ and that’s the last words I heard from him,” Magnusson says “I felt like there was a stone in my throat I stood up from my seat and I just went further and further away next to the wall (at the back of the room) because at that time I couldn’t listen to anything that he was going to say about George I had been there the night before and… I knew more than a lot of the other players.” “That was one of the darkest days of my life going in there and seeing everyone There were no words that could be said that would make anyone feel any differently.” The Panathinaikos players were told to forget about football spend time with their families and hug their loved ones there was already anger among staff and players about some of the media coverage of Baldock’s death — and that was about to get worse As the Panathinaikos players were leaving the training ground on Thursday a popular television show in Greece was broadcasting live outside Baldock’s home and turning the death of a 31-year-old man into a story about the size and cost of his apartment a free-to-air television channel in Greece that is operated by the broadcaster Antenna also used footage of Baldock’s apartment that had been sent in by a viewer and filmed with a drone in the wake of his death The video showed the area around the swimming pool where everything remained untouched from the night before At one point a still image was used to circle a bottle on an outside table is one of the more expensive residential locations of both Greece and Europe,” Liagas said before talking about the value of the home the tone of that whole segment of the show not to mention the use of the drone footage It upset people at Panathinaikos as well as members of the Greece national team and prompted a public backlash on social media He said that he took full responsibility for his actions on the show and described his reporting as “a completely wrong journalistic assessment” By that point, Tasos Bakasetas the Panathinaikos and national team captain had already publicly called out some of the Greek media for disrespecting Baldock’s family and “telling lies” Bakasetas made those comments after a night of high emotion at Wembley where Greece pulled off one of the greatest victories in their history in the most difficult circumstances imaginable The fact that the England game went ahead seems remarkable, bearing in mind Baldock’s relationship with the Greece players. Baldock had played for his country as recently as March in the Euro 2024 play-off tie against Georgia when he picked up a serious calf injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season and all but three of Greece’s match-day squad for the England game had been with Baldock at one point or another with the national team Baldock — and this really shines through when you talk to the Greece players — connected with his team-mates on a human level The Greek players didn’t just like Baldock; they loved him “George was a great person inside and outside of the pitch,” Pantelis Chatzidiakos the Greece international and Copenhagen defender “We could see how much it meant to him to play for Greece Sometimes he played games when he was not 100 per cent fit and if you do this as a player for the national team we appreciate it a lot.” Amid so many difficult conversations in London after Baldock’s death, Greece approached UEFA verbally to ask about the England fixture being moved to another date Although there were huge question marks about the players being in the right frame of mind to play against England Greece’s primary reason for wanting the match to be cancelled was as a mark of respect to Baldock UEFA’s decision to press ahead with the game is not something that the Greece Football Federation wishes to spend any time discussing now purely because that debate overlooks the only thing that really matters to them who asked to speak anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue shortly before the England-Greece game kicked off We will forever cherish the special memories we have of you and you will continue to live on in your beautiful son The Greece players were unaware of those deeply moving words until later in the evening when they returned to the away dressing room at Wembley with tears in their eyes and Baldock’s No 2 shirt in their hands after parading it around the pitch at the final whistle on the back of a poignant and dramatic 2-1 victory “Georgey — for you,” Lazaros Rota Three days later, Greece followed that up with another emotional win, this time against the Republic of Ireland in Athens where Baldock’s name reverberated around the stadium before kick-off after a beautiful montage was played on the screen while the players gathered around the centre circle Bakasetas kissed and removed his black armband after opening the scoring and Petros Mantalos did the same when he added a late second “The win against England and today against Ireland is absolutely for George,” Chatzidiakos said afterwards How on earth do Panathinaikos return to playing football and get through the rest of the season “That’s a very good question because it’s been two days of training since and it feels nowhere near the same,” says Palmer-Brown The Panathinaikos first-team squad returned on Monday lit a candle and placed it on the centre spot of one of the training pitches where all the staff and players gathered to observe two minutes of silence but it’s totally understandable that some players are still struggling to focus on football everyone mourns and grieves in their own way and I know my team-mates and I will do our best to go forward I don’t see myself just moving on and playing football happily ever again Palmer-Brown admits he is struggling to sleep at night He also keeps thinking about Baldock’s fiancee “I haven’t even found the words to reach out (to her),” he says Some moments are more difficult than others and bring home the sobering reality of what has happened “George sat between me and Erik in the dressing room,” Magnusson explains “I came in for treatment the day after the meeting with the players and at 10 o’clock in the morning I saw his name (above his locker) all his stuff — his shoes and his flip-flops — were still there next to me are going through emotions that they’ve never experienced in football before gave a moving interview on the club website last week when he talked about feeling stunned Wilder expressed concern that his own sadness felt “selfish” in the context of what the Baldock family are going through “George loved his missus and his little boy so much,” he says they’re the people in this that I really feel sorry for I know how hard it’s been for me and some of the other boys (at Sheffield United) who love him but little Brody is going to grow up and never know what a top man his dad was Me and the boys have said that it’s our duty to be part of his life and try to remind him at every opportunity how much of an amazing person his dad was.” Panathinaikos have vowed to be there for the Baldock family too The club’s owner Giannis Alafouzos feels a personal responsibility and a duty of care to support them not just now but in the longer term Conversations are ongoing in relation to Baldock’s three-year contract — something that is more complex than people might imagine — and there is the possibility of a charity game too In the meantime, Panathinaikos have a football match to play on Sunday, away against OFI Crete, followed by Chelsea at home in the Europa Conference League four days later who makes a point of saying at the end of our interview that he would like his condolences to be passed onto Baldock’s family and friends through this article “I haven’t played one minute this season (because of injury) but I really want to play the next game “I want to show George that we did it for him and not just one game but for the rest of the season and for the years to come.” (Top image: Dan Goldfarb for The Athletic) A former professional footballer with Swindon Town, Stuart James went onto spend 15 years working for The Guardian, where he reported on far too many relegation battles to mention, one miraculous Premier League title triumph and a couple of World Cups. He joined The Athletic as a Senior Writer in 2019. Follow Stuart on Twitter @stujames75 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE will present 0.1% an immersive installation by Jonathan Baldock from 30 January – 5 July 2025 which is home to the ruins of a Roman Temple of Mithras gods and rituals and their influence on our lives The British artist’s distinctive sculptural installations are formed from natural materials such as hessian wool Baldock’s work reimagines queer and working-class histories Central to the installation and inspired by the Roman artefacts discovered on the site the remnants of an early clay sculpture he made for his mother Cast in bronze from a 3D scan and adorned with semi- precious gems the supersized form will complete a monumental Mother Goddess sculpture contrasting with the male-centric Mithras religion below reflecting Baldock’s deep connection with nature and his family’s Kentish history as hop-gatherers and gardeners The poles will form a maze-like space as they support textile panels reminiscent of the laundry lines of previous generations Baldock’s hand-made textile panels will feature his mother’s favourite flowers along with networks of trees symbolising family and friendship and celebrating the importance of supportive relationships which are woven together over time “Stories of the past help us to understand the world and foster connection.” explains Baldock “0.1% refers to the small genetic difference that unites humanity The installation explores support structures and ideas of family emphasising our interconnectedness and interdependence.” Visitors will be able to engage further with the exhibition using the Bloomberg Connects app the free digital guide to cultural organisations around the world that makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices The app can be downloaded for free via Google Play or the App Store He graduated from Winchester School of Art with a BA in Painting (2000-2003) macabre quality that channels his long standing interest in myth and folklore Baldock has an ongoing focus on the contrast between the material qualities of ceramic and fabric in his work Concerned with removing the functional aspects of the materials he uses the artist instead works in a performative way through his sculptural assemblages the object and the space they simultaneously occupy into question as a theatrical or ritualistic act Recent solo exhibitions include Touch Wood Germany (2023); we are flowers of one garden Baldock’s solo exhibition Facecrime opened at Camden Arts Centre London following a Freelands Lomax Ceramics Fellowship Other notable solo and two-person exhibitions include LOVE LIFE: Act 3 UK (2016) and A strange cross between a butchers shop and a nightclub Jonathan Baldock is represented by Stephen Friedman Gallery London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE is free to visit and open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 12 pm to 5 pm. Pre-booking is advised through londonmithraeum.com. Nations League build-up: England v Greece (19:45 BST) Man City beat holders Barcelona 2-0 in Women's Champions League via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only Emily Reilly-O'Donnell & Tasnim Chowdhury Thank you for joining us today and for sharing all your tributes and memories of George Baldock England and Greece will pay their respects during their Nations League game at Wembley later, which you can follow on BBC Radio 5 Live and on the BBC website by clicking here. We will also be back on Friday to bring you reaction from that game and other international matches taking place later 592Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'All the memories we have shared together I will cherish forever'published at 14:59 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:59 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United from 2020 to 2024: "I'm lost for words and can't get my head around you being gone An incredible team-mate and a great friend all the memories we have shared together I will cherish forever I pray that your family finds all the strength in the world to help them through this pain ❤️ 1363Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'He was Mr Sheffield United'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:57 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes Tributes - including flowers and George Baldock's number two shirt - have been laid outside Bramall Lane this afternoon told me: "I was absolutely devastated but was equally good off the pitch [with the fans] For a lad who wasn't born in Sheffield he was Mr Sheffield United and is going to be missed by so many but you could see it was more than a job to him I need to go down to the Lane'." 935Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'A true one of a kind'published at 14:55 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:55 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United from 2019-2024 said: "In absolute shock about hearing the tragic news about George last night the most entertaining person I've ever met "Thoughts go out to his young family and also his parents and brothers I can't imagine what they'll be going through right now 1013Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'An infectious personality loved by everyone'published at 14:54 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:54 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United from 2020-2024: "GB true friend and infectious personality loved by everyone which will never be forgotten "Thoughts go out to your beautiful family ❤️ You will be truly missed Sheffield United midfielder Anis Ben Slimane 873Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involved - Your George Baldock tributespublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:52 BST 10 October 2024#bbcfootball Completely heartbroken by the news of George’s passing personable individuals who was liked and loved by all It was infectious and we would celebrate his tackles and last-gasp runs like a goal Was the beating heart of the best times of my life as a blade You gave everything and we won’t forget you 1083Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'A true legend of the Lane'published at 14:50 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:50 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United throughout George Baldock's time with the club said: "Deeply saddened to hear the news about George 7 years together and a true legend of the Lane and a good friend "Someone I knew who always had my back out there on the field My thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time." 1094Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involved - Your George Baldock tributespublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:47 BST 10 October 2024#bbcfootball Starman you will always be fondly remembered at Bramall Lane as a great player and even more so for the man you were 854Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'When he was injured he'd be sat with the fans'published at 14:46 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:46 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes I've been at Bramall Lane this afternoon speaking to Sheffield United fans after the passing of their former player George Baldock he knew what it was like to be a Sheffield United player at away games he'd be sat with the fans player and he was adored by the staff of this club and the fans" 851Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'You'll forever be in my heart brother'published at 14:44 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:44 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United during the 2019/20 season: "Can't actually believe this news 961Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Love you brother forever'published at 14:43 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:43 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played with George Baldock at Sheffield United for six years: "I can’t believe I’m writing this… R.I.P to one of the best loved by everyone - Always brightened up the dressing room I’m heartbroken you’re leaving a young family behind - your Blades family will do everything to look out for them 1182Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involved - Your George Baldock tributespublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:41 BST 10 October 2024#bbcfootball Huge condolences to George Baldock’s loved ones He was a key part of Oxford Utd’s 2015-16 promotion squad His link-up and creativity with Alex MacDonald down the right side was joy to watch 781Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGreece asked for Wembley postponement - sourcespublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:39 BST 10 October 2024England v Greece (19:45 BST) Sources inside the Greece camp have told BBC Sport that the players are "devastated" by George Baldock's sudden death Greece sources told the BBC that the Greek Football Federation asked about a possible postponement of Thursday’s game but were told by Uefa that there was no room in the busy calendar 2254Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'In good or bad times you were always there for me'published at 14:37 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:37 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for Sheffield United from 2020-2023: "Absolutely devastated and heartbroken You were so much more to me than a teammate From the first moment we met you took care of me like a big brother In good or bad times you were always there for me You and your family always made me feel home "You are the funniest character I’ve ever met and we could laugh for days together All the memories with you will live with me forever Sending all my love to your family ❤️ Love you GB 1392Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involved - Your George Baldock tributespublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:35 BST 10 October 2024#bbcfootball Baldock is a legend of the lane and always will be 773Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Always brightened up every room you walked in'published at 14:32 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:32 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who played for the club between 2019 and 2021 Always brightened up every room you walked in & was loved by everybody at the club 833Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'It was an honour to share the pitch with you'published at 14:28 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:28 BST 10 October 2024George Baldock tributes who spent last season with Sheffield United: "Heartbreaking Loved every second of getting to know you this past year It was an honour to share the pitch with you 853Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'It will be extremely difficult for the Greece players'published at 14:24 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:24 BST 10 October 2024England v Greece (19:45 BST) BBC Sport senior football reporter Ian Dennis on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It will be extremely difficult for the Greece players There will be a period of silence and also both teams will wear black armbands as a mark of respect at Wembley tonight "It will be very difficult for the Greece players to focus on the game because as I say who played in that game in March against Georgia I'm sure at the forefront of their minds will be George Baldock." 632Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involved - Your George Baldock tributespublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:21 BST 10 October 2024#bbcfootball For us George embodied all that it means to be a good footballer and human being humble and dedicated to his clubs and team-mates He made my 8-year-old son’s day when there was a civic reception at Sheffield town hall for United’s promotion of 2023 taking the time to happily pose for a photo with my son and talking to him 1323Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSouthgate plans year out from managementpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 10 October 202414:16 BST 10 October 2024Simon StoneBBC Sport's chief football news reporter in Athens Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he will not return to a coaching role for at least a year. The 54-year-old resigned from the England job after the defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July Southgate was appointed as Three Lions boss in 2016 and guided England to back-to-back Euro finals as well as a fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup He has been linked with Manchester United amid the uncertainty over the future of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford speaking at the European Club Association general assembly in Athens on Thursday Southgate ruled out an immediate return to management "I won't coach in the next year for sure "I need to give myself time to make good decisions "When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time Oldest first1Gibraltar21103214No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultDResult DrawWResult Win2San Marino21011103No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultWResult WinLResult Loss3Liechtenstein201123-11No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultLResult LossDResult DrawLeague D Group 2TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal DifferencePointsForm Oldest first1Moldova22004046No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultWResult WinWResult Win2Malta210112-13No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultLResult LossWResult Win3Andorra200203-30No ResultNo ResultNo ResultNo ResultLResult LossLResult LossKeyPosition 1 - 2 : Quarter-finalsPosition 3 : Relegation Play-offPosition 4 : RelegationLast Updated 10th October 2024 at 21:42 The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. 'Hugely emotional night' as Panathinaikos fans pay tribute to Baldock 'Sad moment' - Pellistri pays tribute to former team-mate Baldock after 'shock' death AdvertisementHow was your experience today? George Baldock was tragically found dead at age 31 at his residence in Greece and the defender's cause of death has now been reported. Greek police earlier confirmed there was no evidence that criminal activity caused the death of the 31-year-old I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock drowned while swimming in the pool at his home in Athens Greek police earlier confirmed there was no evidence that criminal activity caused the death of the 31-year-old Greece international, who signed for Athens club Panathinaikos in the summer. “We are heartbroken with the sudden passing of our beloved George. We can confirm that a post-mortem examination has found that George tragically drowned whilst swimming in the pool at his home in Glyfada, Athens,” a statement from Baldock’s family read. “George, you were the most special father, fiance, son, brother, uncle, friend, team-mate and person. Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those that were fortunate enough to know you and those that adored you from the stands. “We will forever cherish the special memories we have of you and you will continue to live on in your beautiful son. You were due to fly home today for us to celebrate his first birthday together, but instead we mourn your loss. “As a family it has been incredibly touching, but equally so very difficult to read the huge number of tributes written by those that knew George and from those whose life he touched. “It was impossible not to love him. We ask that you please continue to respect our privacy at this devastating time as we begin to process our grief.” Baldock – who left the Blades in the summer to join Panathinaikos – won 12 caps for Greece, after being eligible to represent them through his grandmother. He was last involved in their squad for the Euro 2024 play-off defeat to Georgia. There was a period of silence before Thursday night’s Nations League match between England and Greece at Wembley, which the visitors won 2-1, with Baldock’s picture shown on the big screens. Players of both sides also wore black armbands and the Greece team held up his shirt after they scored their opening goal in the shock Wembley win. Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic said Baldock left his mark on the squad. “The whole team and everyone has gone through a very difficult 24 hours,” he said. “He was with us in the dressing room, it is something that shouldn’t happen. “In such moments football isn’t important. He left his mark with us with the way the players played with him on the pitch today.” Greek police said in a statement that there had been no evidence that criminal activity attributed to Baldock’s death. “A preliminary investigation has been carried out by the Attica Security Directorate,” a statement from Greece’s Ministry of Citizen Protection read. “A forensic pathologist was called to the scene and examined the body with no evidence of criminal activity. “In addition, the police searched the house to determine if there are any traces of a burglary, with a negative result. George, you were the most special father, fiance, son, brother, uncle, friend, team-mate and person. Your enthusiasm and infectious personality brought so much love to those that were fortunate enough to know you and those that adored you from the stands “Also, a specialised team of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Police carried out a check at the house in order to exclude the possibility of criminal activity.” The Blades paid tribute to Baldock, who spent seven seasons at Bramall Lane including three in the Premier League. “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,” a club statement posted on social media read. “The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him. “The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.” Baldock was first called up to play for Greece in 2022 when Gus Poyet was coach. A statement from the Greece national team said: “There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the unexpected loss of one of our own, young, man. The moment forces silence. Condolences to his family. Condolences from his second family.” UEFA said there would also be a minute’s silence before Greece’s match at home to the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. Former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom, who managed Baldock at the Blades and is now in charge of Preston, said on X: “Numbing to hear of George Baldock’s passing, a man with so much still ahead of him in life as a husband, father, brother and son. “George was a super person and fantastic professional who was admired and adored by all who worked with him. My prayers are with his loved ones right now. George, it was a privilege to have known you.” Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has sadly passed away at the age of 31 Greece international Baldock left Sheffield United and joined Panathinaikos this summer after spending seven years at Bramall Lane who was not included in Greece’s squad to face England on Thursday featured in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Olympiacos Baldock’s death was confirmed on Wednesday night and a family statement to the PA news agency read: “We can confirm that George has sadly passed away As a family we are in shock at this terrible loss We ask please that the media respect our privacy at this time.” The Blades paid tribute to their “extremely popular” former player who was reportedly found dead at his home in Athens “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player “The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters A statement from the Greece national team read: “With profound sadness and sorrow the National Team and the Greek Football Federation bid farewell to George Baldock “There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the unexpected loss of one of our own We stand with the family and loved ones of George Baldock,” a Panathinaikos statement added England international and former Sheffield United player Harry Maguire posted “RIP” and a heartbreak emoji alongside an image of Baldock on Instagram while ex-team-mate Dean Henderson posted “RIP Blades legend” on X along with a picture of the pair The Football Association expressed its devastation at Baldock’s death “We are devastated to learn of the passing of George Baldock at the age of 31 Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with George’s family friends and team-mates at club and country,” an FA statement read An England statement added: “We’re extremely saddened by the passing of George Baldock and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday night friends and team-mates at club and country at this difficult time.” Buckinghamshire-born Baldock started his career at MK Dons and went on to play more than 100 times for the club A lengthy spell at MK Dons included numerous loan spells away with two stints at Oxford before he signed for Sheffield United in 2017 Baldock was a key figure as Chris Wilder’s team secured promotion to the Premier League where they initially took the top-flight by storm before they suffered relegation in 2021 Baldock helped the Blades secure automatic promotion back to the summit of English football and his form earned him international recognition in 2022 he was convinced by then-Greece head coach Gus Poyet to play for the national team and went on to earn 12 caps last playing for his country earlier this year A switch to Panathinaikos followed after 219 appearances for the Blades Baldock played at MK Dons with older brother Sam Baldock who is an academy coach at Premier League side Brighton A Brighton statement added: “We are shocked to learn of the passing of George Baldock at the age of 31 Our love and condolences are with George’s brother and our colleague Sam MK Dons said in a statement: “We are deeply devastated and saddened to learn about the shocking news of former academy graduate and MK Dons player “Everyone affiliated with MK Dons shares a great love for George and we would like to share our sincerest condolences during these awful times A Super League Greece statement read: “The entire Super League football family expresses its deep sorrow for the untimely loss of Panathinaikos and our national team footballer and extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.” Baldock’s other brother James Baldock is a club doctor at Oxford who said in a statement: “Oxford United Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player “The sincere condolences of everyone associated with the Club are extended to James © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has died at the age of 31