GEORGE BALDOCK’S heartbreaking summer farewell message to Sheffield United fans has re-emerged after the star’s tragic death on Wednesday.

Baldock, 31, was found dead in a swimming pool at his home in Greece after joining Panathinaikos over the summer.

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Police are now investigating the cause of Baldock’s death after his wife, who lives in England, alerted his landlord while struggling to contact him.

Baldock’s passing has come as a huge shock to the world of football, especially for former side Sheffield United.

He spent seven seasons playing for the Blades between 2017 and 2024, scoring six times in 219 games,

And in that time Baldock helped United get promoted to the Premier League on two separate occasions.

Indeed, the defender had only recently departed Bramall Lane for his new adventure in Greece.

And Baldock’s farewell message to fans has now re-emerged in the wake of his tragic death.

After agreeing a free transfer to Panathinaikos in May, Baldock said on the Blades’ X account: “To all you Sheffield United fans, it’s a huge thank-you from me.

“You’ve been absolutely amazing. Your support has been so much more than I ever expected. Like I said, you’re the best around.

“Keep supporting the team and the staff and hopefully the club can get back to where we all want it to be.

“I leave here as a massive fan of the club. Good luck and thank you.”

George Baldock career stats

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George Baldock has tragically died aged 31

2009-2017 – MK Dons 125 games (2 goals)

2011 – Tamworth (loan) 3 (0)

2012 – IBV (loan) 18 (1)

2012 – Tamworth (loan) 15 (1)

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2015-16 – Oxford United (loan) 47 (3)

2017-2024 – Sheffield United 219 (6)

2024 – Panathinaikos 4 (0)

Following the news of Baldock’s passing, United posted a tribute online.

It read: “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player George Baldock.

“The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and teammates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.

“The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.”

United’s owner Prince Abdullah added: “Devastating news, speechless — my condolences to his family and to all of us who loved him.”

Now fully recovered, Reid says he is “absolutely delighted” to be back with Northern Ireland.

Somewhat of a late bloomer to the international stage, Reid scored on his debut against Romania in March at the age of 29, and has now won four caps.

After missing September’s matches as he recovered from the blood clot, he says he can “put it behind me”.

“I haven’t really had a pre-season, so it’s like I’m playing League One games to get fit, which isn’t ideal.

“But I’m feeling better with each game and each training, so hopefully I can get back to a place where I was.”

Northern Ireland travel to Hungary to face Belarus, a game that will be played behind closed doors due to Uefa restrictions, on Saturday before Bulgaria visit Windsor Park on Tuesday.

“I love it here and being in this set up. It’s a real privilege,” said Reid.

“I don’t have a lot of international experience, these young boys probably have more than me. But I’ve played a lot of games, through the lower leagues and up to League One, and I feel like I’ve adapted everywhere I’ve gone.”

The fear of injury is impacting on the mental health of players, according to a survey by the Professional Footballers’ Association.

The survey found 68% of more than 1,000 male and female PFA members questioned last season identified this fear as having a major negative impact.

The finding comes after Manchester City midfielder Rodri, prior to suffering a season-ending injury, said players were “close” to striking over increased workload.

Online abuse also had a negative impact on mental well-being for 28% of those surveyed.

PFA director of player well-being Dr Michael Bennett said football “is an incredibly insecure career for many” with players often finding themselves on short-term contracts and feeling “as if they have very little control over their futures”.

“What our survey results highlight is that these ‘on-pitch’ concerns – like injury and performance – can and do affect footballers’ mental health,” Bennett said.

“This exercise is incredibly important to us and allows us to see ‘the person’ behind the player, and we’re always encouraged that players choose to disclose these concerns with us.”

The PFA is part of two separate legal challenges against football’s governing body Fifa over a perceived lack of consultation over the fixture calendar.

Following Rodri’s claim that players were close to taking strike action, City manager Pep Guardiola said any changes must be player-led – comments echoed by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca who said there is “no doubt” the schedule is too congested.

A recent report said a player welfare ‘red line’ was a maximum of between 50 and 60 matches per season, depending on a player’s age. Rodri played 63 competitive games for club and country last season.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said the club are even considering giving players holidays during the season to cope with fixture congestion.

On-pitch performance (45%) and the fear of being dropped (41%) were among the other concerns raised in the PFA survey, while alcohol use (17%) and gambling (15%) were the leading ‘non-industry’ hazards negatively impacting player well-being.

The PFA said its club visits led to 330 well-being interventions, including 60 direct referrals for therapeutic support, while 530 current and former PFA members received mental health support from the union’s partner Sporting Chance clinic.

ENGLAND stars have been spotted using a new training tool as Lee Carsley eyes the full England job.

Interim Three Lions boss Carsley is looking to maintain his 100 per cent winning record with Nations League wins over Greece and Finland.

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The first of these games comes around on Thursday at Wembley.

However, Carsley, 50, has got his players trying out something new with a piece of kit worth more than £2,000.

Stars including Jude Bellingham and Marc Guehi were spotted pushing a “power sled” in training.

The equipment is used to help develop power in athletes.

They are said to be an excellent exercise for overall conditioning that focuses on strength development, speed and acceleration and torching calories.

It is said to have a similar impact as a bench press by emphasising the arms and upper torso.

Carsley suffered a triple injury blow to his squad as Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ezri Konsa had to withdraw through injury.

Curtis Jones and Tino Livramento have been called up in their place.

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The former England Under-21 boss also has a headache over the left-back slot.

But he revealed bold plans which could see the likes of Cole Palmer played there due to his preference to have a left-footed option on that side of the defence.

“Alongside the sailing bit, there’s a lot of background work in engineering and boat building, careers that haven’t been that accessible for females so we’re really trying to push the science, technology, engineering and maths aspects to get young women and girls interested in those career paths.

“We’ve done some roadshows in schools in the UK and a big thread of the campaign is trying to push that gender equity.”

The Parkway team was co-founded by Mills and Ainslie in 2022 to fast-track promising sailors and increase diversity in the sport.

More than 300 sailors applied to take part, and 18 months of trials followed before the team was whittled down to the final dozen.

Others taking part include Anna Burnet, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and fellow Olympians Ellie Aldridge, Saskia Tidey and Freya Black.

JAI OPETAIA took 44 punches to his stomach in a brutal training routine ahead of his blockbuster bout this weekend.

The IBF cruiserweight champion, 29, is set to defend his belt against Britain’s Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

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Aussie Opetaia has been stepping up his preparation for the fight with intense training sessions.

In footage filmed by SunSport, the southpaw can be seen taking 44 shots to the stomach in quick succession.

Throughout the 34-second sequence, Opetaia makes no attempt to fight back or defend the blows.

The 25-0 bruiser was last in action in May against Mairis Briedis.

On that occasion he earned back his IBF title, having previously vacated the belt.

Massey, 31, will attempt to dethrone Opetaia in Saturday’s much-anticipated bout.

The Cheshire-lad spent 2022 scaffolding with his brother, before a narrow points loss to heavyweight Joseph Parker the following year got his career moving again.

In an emotional chat with SunSport, Massey recounted his experiences working alongside his dad at a brake pad factory.

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He said: “My dad has worked at the same brake pad factory for 40 years.

“When I was there he would always say to me: ‘Do you want to be stuck here like me for the rest of your life – or do you want to make something of yourself in boxing?’

“When I used to work with my brother, he would say ‘do you really want to be doing this s***?’

“They both told me I could make something of my life through boxing and that has stuck with me.

“It’s been a bit like that Matt Damon film where he is really intelligent and his mate tells him the best thing that could happen was that he drives to collect him for another day on site and Damon has gone.

“They always told me it would be offensive to them if he didn’t go on and make something of himself. And that sticks in my mind.

“The fellas on sites and in factories are the boxing fans in our country – so it means a lot and it reminds me why I do it.”

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