Sheffield United honour George Baldock before Leeds match after tragic death
Baldock, who passed away earlier this month at the age of just 31, played more than 200 times for the Blades
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George Baldock was honoured before the Yorkshire derby after tragically dying aged 31 earlier this month
open image in gallery
George Baldock was honoured before the Yorkshire derby after tragically dying aged 31 earlier this month (Action Images)
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Sheffield United and Leeds United honoured the memory of the late George Baldock ahead of their Championship fixture on Friday evening.
Baldock, who played more than 200 times for Sheffield United, was found dead at the age of 31 earlier this month in Athens, Greece.
The full-back joined Panathanaikos this summer after seven seasons at Bramall Lane, helping the Yorkshire club to two promotions to the Premier League.
In emotional scenes at Elland Road on Friday night, rivalry was put aside as the Blades made the short trip north for their first fixture since Baldock’s passing.
Both teams came on to the pitch wearing black armbands, a minute’s silence that ultimately turned into a minute of applause and chanting was observed before the match and representatives from both club laid flowers as a tribute.
There were also flags and shirts featuring Baldock’s name and face, as well as Greece flags – the country he represented internationally – throughout the Blades section of the crowd.
Shirts with George Baldock’s name on were held up by Sheffield United fans
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Shirts with George Baldock’s name on were held up by Sheffield United fans (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Greece flags were also peppered throughout the Sheffield United section of the crowd
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Greece flags were also peppered throughout the Sheffield United section of the crowd (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu laid a wreath in tribute to Baldock
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Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu laid a wreath in tribute to Baldock (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
This tribute followed a number of fans laying flowers and wreaths outside Bramall Lane to mark Baldock’s memory after his shock death.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder signed Baldock in 2017 after working with him at Oxford United, and ahead of the match said the club was still trying to cope with the news.
Fans paid tribute to former Sheffield United player George Baldock outside Bramall Lane
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Fans paid tribute to former Sheffield United player George Baldock outside Bramall Lane (PA Wire)
“It’s been really difficult,” Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield. “It puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it?
“We’re in the industry of football, we’re football people, but there’s something miles bigger than the game of football on Friday.
“I’m having to talk about the game, and having to talk about the sad passing of a player that meant so much to everybody here at Sheffield United.”
More aboutSheffield UnitedChris WilderChampionshipLeeds United
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