THE NOTEBOOK: A sombre mood takes over Wembley, FA guests of honour celebrate our diversity, England players’ cookery show gets the chop, while John Stones becomes England’s 128th captain
Wembley observed a period of silence and the players wore black armbands in memory of George Baldock, who died suddenly on Wednesday.
Following a request from the Greek FA, UEFA granted permission for the tribute during a meeting on Thursday morning.
Baldock, who played 12 times for their senior national team, made over 350 appearances in English football before moving to Panathinakos in the summer.
A Wembley crowd paid tribute to the life of former player George Baldock who died this week
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was the FA’s guest of honour to celebrate Black History Month
FA’s Wembley guests of honour celebrate our diversity
Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Thomas Hitzlesperger were invited as guests of honour by the FA to last night’s clash for a special pre-match celebration of Black History Month.
Equalities campaigner and mother of Stephen, who was tragically murdered 31 years ago in a racially-motivated attack on south London, was on the guest list for the Nations League tie at Wembley.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Hitzlesperger – who revealed he was gay in 2014 – was also scheduled to attend.
Bukayo Saka was one of several England players to feature in a now-axed cookery show
England players cookery show given the chop
The FA pulled a new online cookery show with M&S featuring internet personality Yung Filly and England players after the celebrity was charged following rape allegations.
England stars Bukayo Saka, Ezri Konsa, and Jarrod Bowen were due to feature in the videos as part of the ‘Freestyle Cooking’ series on the FA YouTube channel.
But the governing body have reacted quickly developments that Yung Filly – real name Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos – had been arrested and taken into custody in Brisbane on Tuesday, and then extradited to Perth.
John Stones became England’s 128th captain, as the Three Lions took on Greece at Wembley
Captain Stones joins roll call of England greats
John Stones became England’s 128th captain here last night.
In the absence of Harry Kane, the Manchester City defender led out the team at Wembley to mark one of the proudest moments of his career.
Speaking on Wednesday night, Stones said: ‘It’s everything I dreamed of as a kid. It’s a special moment and I cannot thank Lee [Carsley] enough.’
