At Crown Hill Crematorium, on the western side of Milton Keynes, the funeral of George Baldock was held, with the family of Panathinaikos by the side of the 31-year-old defender in his final resting place.
His parents, siblings, and wife, devastated, stood by him on his last journey, accompanied by friends, relatives, and teammates who came to bid farewell to their beloved.
The ceremony was marked by deep emotion, with heartfelt words. His family members addressed George through eulogies that praised his character, the sweetness of his soul, and his deep dedication to football, from his early steps to his professional career. They spoke of the love and admiration he had earned from everyone, and with particular emotion, they discussed his close relationship with Greece.
His teammates from Panathinaikos and the National Team were particularly moved, unable to hold back their tears as they said goodbye to their beloved friend and teammate. With tears in their eyes, his teammates spoke about his passion for the sport, the energy he brought to the pitch, and the friendship he so generously offered to all. Their presence there, with hearts full of sorrow, reminded everyone how beloved George Baldock was and how great his loss is for the team.
Through the team’s social media, the “clover” bid a final farewell to the former player, emphasizing that he will forever remain in the hearts of the “green” organization.
“Rest in peace, George Baldock, you will always be in our hearts,” the post from Panathinaikos notably states.
The footballer’s funeral took place 80 kilometers northwest of London. Besides relatives and friends, the entire Panathinaikos team, led by Giannis Alafouzos, arrived early in the morning on a charter flight. The team will return to Athens early Thursday morning.
Also present were teammates from English football, representatives of the Hellenic Football Federation, and officials from the Greek National Team, including his teammate in the national squad, Dinos Mavropanos, who plays in London for West Ham.
Gagatsis on Baldock: “His memory will remain alive”
A few hours before the funeral of George Baldock, the president of the Hellenic Football Federation, Makis Gagatsis, said his own final “goodbye” to the tragically departed player. Makis Gagatsis emphasized that the memory of George Baldock will remain alive, with the Hellenic Football Federation announcing that the deputy president, Nikos Tzortzoglou, and the vice president of the National Teams Committee, Pantelis Chatzimarinakis, will be present at the funeral, along with Vasilis Torosidis and Dimitris Salpingidis representing the National Team.
The detailed announcement from the Hellenic Football Federation reads:
“On the occasion of the funeral of George Baldock today in England, the president of the Hellenic Football Federation, Makis Gagatsis, made the following statement:
“Today, the National Team, the Hellenic Football Federation, and the entirety of Greek football bid farewell to George Baldock, who unexpectedly and prematurely left us.
His absence and the void he leaves behind amplify the pain of loss, but his memory will remain alive, and this will be the greatest tribute to his invaluable contribution and love for the blue and white jersey, for which we honor and are grateful to him.
Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, who need our support and solidarity.
Safe journey…”.
Representatives from the Federation will include deputy president Nikos Tzortzoglou and the vice president of the National Teams Committee Pantelis Chatzimarinakis, along with Vasilis Torosidis and Dimitris Salpingidis representing the National Team.
A wonderful gesture from MK Dons sent a jersey with Baldock’s name to Panathinaikos
In addition to Greek teams that honored the memory of the Panathinaikos player in every way, MK Dons, where he played, paid tribute to their former player. The English club sent George Baldock’s jersey to the Greens, who photographed it next to their own and made a joint post on Instagram.
“For George. George Baldock’s football journey is memorable and will forever be celebrated by those who knew him. His great talent, work ethic, and smile will never be forgotten in Athens and Milton Keynes,” reads the caption of the post.
The Greek ambassador to the United Kingdom at the funeral
The Greek ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr. Giannis Tsaousis, will also attend the funeral, stating to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that he wants to honor the memory of the Greek international footballer. “A young man who was known and loved by the staff of our Embassy,” said the Greek ambassador, emphasizing that “his untimely death caused deep sorrow not only in Greek football but also in the English football community and more broadly in Greece and the United Kingdom.” He also highlighted that “the image we saw on October 10 at Wembley, with players from the national teams of Greece and England paying tribute to George Baldock with a minute of silence, and the fans of both teams united, will remain etched in our memory.”
Since the fateful night of October 9, when George Baldock passed away, plunging his loved ones, as well as Greek and English football, into sorrow, the tributes in his honor have not ceased.
The most recent tribute was from the printed program of his former team, Sheffield United, which sold out almost immediately. The team announced that it would reissue it since some were exploiting the sensitivity of fans who couldn’t get their hands on it, selling it on a well-known auction site at 900 percent more than its original value.
It is also worth noting that there are preliminary discussions to create a space bearing his name, with the contribution of Greeks living in the wider area of Milton Keynes. The initial proposals speak of a small football field or a space where children can play. “Something, in any case, that will keep his memory alive,” say those involved in the discussions.
