Fans pay tribute to 'club legend' George Baldock

Fans wrote messages of condolence and shared memories for MK Dons player George Baldock

Football fans have been paying a matchday tribute to a "club legend" who was found dead in his swimming pool.

Greece international George Baldock's body was found in Glyfada, southern Athens on Wednesday.

Buckingham-born Baldock started his career at Milton Keynes Dons in 2009, playing for them more than 100 times, before moving to Sheffield Utd, and joining Greek side Panathinaikos in May.

Dons supporters shared their memories in a book at the club shop, ahead of a minute's silence before their 1-0 defeat at home to Port Vale.

George Baldock joined the junior ranks at the Dons aged eight and started playing for the first team in 2009

MK Dons fan Steve Manning says Baldock was "one of a kind"

Players from both MK Dons and Port Vale wore black armbands during the match at Stadium MK.

Supporter Steve Manning from Milton Keynes, who had Baldock printed on the back of his replica team shirt, said: "He's a club legend.

"He grew up in the city; he embodied everything that MK Dons stands for really."

He said he was "pretty much devastated" when he heard the news of Baldock's passing.

"Not going to lie, I just welled up a bit with tears," he said.

"So cruel. He was here since he was eight, been through the ranks, progressed through to the first team.

"He had that special quality that you just can't find; he was Milton Keynes."

Fans gather at exterior memorial to late George Baldock

Fan Amy Cox says she was heartbroken to hear of the player's death

Another fan, Amy Cox, 20, also from the city, said she was "gutted" to learn of his death, describing it as "heartbreaking".

"His family are clearly hurting, so are we. I wanted to show a tribute and write something down for him."

John Samuel, vice chairman of the MK Dons Supporters Association (MKDSA), said: "I knew George from the academy - always very friendly.

"He seemed to get the MK Dons thing; he was one of our own.

"It was such a shock, someone you know, someone so young taken so soon from us.

"Very, very sad, all the fans, an outpouring of grief, not only the MK Dons fans, from Sheffield United, Oxford fans, he had his time at Tamworth, Northampton.

"Even Premiership stars that he played with are on social media tweeting about how sad it was."

Former MK Dons chairman Pete Winkleman said Baldock would be "loved forever" by the club