To Sheffield United fans he was their “Starman”; to those who met him he was “loveable” and “unfailingly helpful”.
The world of football is coming to terms with the passing of former Premier League defender George Baldock at the age of 31.
The England-born Greece international was found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Glyfada, southern Athens.
Baldock made 219 Sheffield United appearances, including 83 in the Premier League, having started his career with MK Dons, while he joined Greek side Panathinaikos in the summer after leaving the Blades.
Baldock was a key player for the Blades as they secured promotion to the Premier League in 2019 and again in 2023, and the words “Starman, running down the wing” would often be sung to the tune of David Bowie’s song, as the full-back charged down the right flank.
BBC Sport has spoken to some of those who got to know Baldock, the person as well as the player.
‘Baldock bought my son a defibrillator’
Read comments on social media or check football fan forums and it is clear to see just how much Baldock meant to supporters, especially those he met.
One Sheffield United fan, Marie Purdy, spoke of how Baldock once went out of his way to purchase a defibrillator for her son, Harvey, who was previously diagnosed with a faulty heart valve.
“As anxious parents and being completely in shock, it rocked us,” she said of her son’s diagnosis.
“First thing Harvey said was ‘can I still play football?’ Like every boy he wants to grow up and be like his heroes and play for his club and England.”
Marie decided to try and raise funds for a defibrillator for their peace of mind when Harvey was playing football. They wrote to a number of clubs to see if they could secure memorabilia to sell for fundraising.
“Out of the blue we got an email from Sheffield United,” she says. “They said they’d like to help Harvey and could he come to the club, obviously with masks and social distancing and everything because it was during Covid.
“They’d gone on the pitch and had a tour, and from behind some seats came Sander Berge and George Baldock with face masks on.
“They asked Harvey about how poorly he had been and how he was. George said: ‘This has nothing to do with the club but I want to buy you a defib, I want to help.’
“It was a gift for Harvey so he could continue playing football.”
Marie met Baldock several times over the years and he regularly asked how Harvey was doing. They met for the final time earlier this year, before Baldock’s move to Greece.
“He asked how Harvey was and we said that his club had just been promoted and Harvey scored the winning penalty,” adds Marie. “Harvey showed him the videos on my phone of him taking the winning penalty and all his team-mates running to him and celebrating.
“George was overwhelmed and I told him that was because of him. Without the defib he probably wouldn’t have stuck to playing football because he was anxious.
“He was such a nice person; it is heartbreaking we have lost him. He should have had a happy ending.”
Outside Bramall Lane on Thursday, Sheffield United fans came to pay tribute to a player they adored.
“He knew what it was to be a Blade,” one supporter said. “When he was not in the team and was injured, at away games he would be sat with fans.”
Another fan added: “He was Mr Sheffield United and he will be missed by so many. It feels like I’ve lost a friend.”
‘Don’t tell the gaffer about my bookings’
Baldock started his career at MK Dons when he made his debut as a 17-year-old and was part of the team that famously beat Manchester United 4-0 in the second round of the League Cup in 2014.
“George was just a likeable lad, a loveable character who wore his heart on his sleeve and genuinely cared about people,” Simon Crampton, MK Dons performance and operations director, told BBC Sport.
“I joined MK Dons in 2006 as a physio and when my wife fell pregnant with our first child, George sent a card to congratulate her.
“He was only 17 and he was the only player to do so. It was little things like that.”
Crampton remembers Baldock going to Iceland for a loan spell at IBV in 2012.
“He was buzzing the Icelandic fans saw him as this hard Englishman because he had five yellow cards. In the same breath he was saying ‘please don’t tell the manager’.
“He didn’t want the gaffer to find out he had so many bookings.”
A picture of Baldock with his shirt off after scoring a late winner at Swindon Town in 2014 appeared in the players’ tunnel at Stadium MK.
Baldock’s older brother Sam also played for MK Dons before playing for West Ham and Brighton.
His other brother James was also at MK Dons as a doctor with the academy team.
“I really feel for his family because they are all lovely people,” said Crampton.
“It’s really rocked our football club. He will forever be in our memories.”
MK Dons are planning a tribute before Saturday’s League Two home game with Port Vale (15:00 BST).
‘A team of special characters, none bigger than him’
Alan Biggs, a broadcaster and a columnist for the Sheffield Star, interviewed Baldock numerous times over the years, and he told BBC Sport: “He was unfailingly helpful, very grounded, modest, never spoke about himself above the team – he was just a genuinely nice guy. The type you wanted to succeed.”
He added: “I once did a show on local TV in Sheffield and he was a guest on that. We did not pay anything, but he and Billy Sharp came down to the studio, gave an hour of their time and then we all went to the pub.
“It was not just a superficial thing with George – what you saw is what you got.”
Following the sad news of his tragic death, Biggs posted a picture (below) of Baldock, taken moments after Sheffield United had secured promotion back to the Premier League with a victory against West Brom in April 2023.
Biggs added: “I was broadcasting that night. Most of the players had gone down the tunnel, George had been down but he appeared again in the technical area.
“I went over and said congratulations and asked if I could take a photo and he said yes. I just thought what a picture of bliss he was, absolute happiness. He was exhausted, elated.
“I know it is a cliche but I never heard a bad word said about him. He was part of a team of special characters, none bigger than him, because they put the success of the team over themselves.”
‘Heartbroken’ footballers pay respects to ‘amazing human’
Team-mates have paid tribute to Baldock on social media.
Former Sheffield United player Samir Carruthers wrote on Instagram: “Brother, I don’t know what to say, I love you man. I miss you.
“You was my best mate for years and years and I was so lucky to live my football career with you and live with you. The world has lost an amazing human but I know you’re in heaven my friend. I will cherish every memory I made with you, you’ll always be in my heart.”
Oli McBurnie, who played with Baldock for five years at Sheffield United, said he felt sick at the news.
“I genuinely can’t believe you have gone brother, I feel sick,” he wrote on Instagram.
“One of the best people I’ve ever met, you were loved by everyone you came across. My heart is broken for your beautiful little family. Sleep well GB, I love you mate.”
Way before they became professional footballers, England and Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell got to know George Baldock as they grew up in Buckinghamshire.
Chilwell wrote on Instagram: “From hitting the bars together when we were younger in MK, to playing each other in the Premier League. I am heartbroken. Rest in peace mate.”
And former Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom, now boss of Preston, also paid tribute.
“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,” he wrote on X.
“George was 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.”
