There was a sombre moment just before kick-off as both teams — and the whole stadium — paid tribute to Baldock, who died this week at the age of 31.
The away team emerged with a white Greece home shirt sporting ‘BALDOCK 2’ on the back. Baldock, who was born in England but qualified for Greece through his grandmother, was capped 12 times.
Then, with the stadium’s big screens showing a photo of Baldock, the England players applauded on the edge of the centre circle while the Greece team stood arm-in-arm. Following announcements in English and Greek, the whole stadium then held still in silence — a minute’s respect that was perfectly observed.
There was even a Greece flag with a Sheffield United badge held up among the England fans, one of many tributes paid to the former Milton Keynes Dons, Sheffield United and Panathinaikos defender.
Those continued during the game itself, with Pavlidis holding up a black armband as he celebrated opening the scoring. His team-mates gathered to lift the same ‘BALDOCK 2’ shirt to the heavens, ensuring the full-back would not be forgotten.
