Blades fans raise thousands for Baldock banner

Fans gathered outside Bramall Lane last week to place tributes to George Baldock

Sheffield United fans have raised thousands of pounds for a huge banner paying tribute to former Blade George Baldock.

Known by fans as "starman", the defender played for the side for seven years and helped the club secure two promotions to the Premier League.

The England-born Greece international was found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Glyfada, southern Athens on Wednesday.

A fundraising total of £4,000 for the banner, big enough to cover a third of the Kop at Bramall Lane while fans hold it aloft, has been exceeded.

Baldock, who represented the Greece national team 12 times, had joined Greek side Panathinaikos in the summer after seven years at the Blades.

The Buckingham-born player, who started his career at MK Dons, made 219 appearances in all competitions for Sheffield United.

The defender played for Sheffield United from 2017 until 2024

The banner was the idea of fan Nigel Brooke and was set up by Klaire Heap, of supporters' group We Are True Blades.

The group said donations above the £4,000 target would be donated to charity.

"The banner will be a tribute to George," Ms Heap said.

"We decided that any extra raised will go back to local causes George was involved with, supporting the older generation through the Blades Memory Club and the younger generation through Jonny Gascoigne's children."

Mr Gascoigne was a member of the Blades community who also passed away recently, she said.

Baldock's Greece teammates paid tribute to the player during their win against England on Thursday

"What stuck in my mind, and I'm sure a lot of supporters would agree, was how Baldock always had time for his fans," said Mr Brooke.

"Even after a bad game he'd come out and talk to fans and give autographs."

Ms Heap said the supporters' group would work with the club on the technical and safety aspects of the banner.

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