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Jude Bellingham's father Mark called up to play for England's OVER-50s in clash with Ireland

Jude Bellingham's father Mark has received a call up to England Veterans Over 50s squad to face Republic of Ireland this weekend.

A talented non-league striker in his heyday, Bellingham netted over 700 goals across at least 20 different clubs, including Leamington, Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield Town.

He even earned the nickname the 'Non-League Pele' during his 25-year career, which ended in 2017.

The father of Real Madrid and England superstar Jude, 23, and Borussia Dortmund and England Under-23 midfielder Jobe, Mark is now set to dust off his shooting boots and become the third member of the Bellingham family to don the Three Lions shirt.

England Veterans Over 50s are the reigning Seniors World Cup champions, having clinched their ninth title in Thailand earlier this year.

Gareth Barry, the former Manchester City and Everton midfielder, lined up for the side alongside Lee Hendrie, also formerly of Aston Villa, although both of those names are absent for the upcoming match in Berkshire on Sunday, November 1.

The father of Real Madrid superstar Jude, 23, and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe, Mark is now set to dust off his shooting boots (Source: judebellingham/Instagram)
The father of Real Madrid superstar Jude, 23, and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe, Mark is now set to dust off his shooting boots (Source: judebellingham/Instagram)
A former West Midlands Police officer, Bellingham earned the nickname the 'Non-League Pele' during his 25-year career. Pictured above with Jude (Source: CJPhillips1982/X)
A former West Midlands Police officer, Bellingham earned the nickname the 'Non-League Pele' during his 25-year career. Pictured above with Jude (Source: CJPhillips1982/X)

When not playing football of his own, Bellingham is regularly seen attending his two sons' matches.

A Southend United supporter, Mark introduced Jude to football, with the England star's first live matches coming alongside his father at Roots Hall.

Speaking about his father in a recent interview, Jude said: 'We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first.

'When you go and watch him play every week in non-league, you know it's not the Premier League or anything, but seeing the way that he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero.

'After the first few times of going, I'd start to pay a bit more attention to the games and stuff, the atmosphere and he's scoring goals so you see him celebrating and stuff like that - you want that to be me.

'Growing up, he'd always give me tips on what I could do and now it gets to a certain age and it sort of flips and that's brilliant because we have that sort of relationship like father and son and then as I got older, like coach and player.'

Mark helped set up Stourbridge Juniors, Jude’s first club, and was a sergeant before fully focusing on his sons’ careers.

He became their agent and negotiated Jude’s £88.5m transfer to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, and dealt with Dortmund again when Jobe moved there from Sunderland in 2025.

Mark and Jude and Jobe's mother, Denise, are understood to have separated but remain close, the pair having attended Jude's games at the World Cup together this past summer
Mark and Jude and Jobe's mother, Denise, are understood to have separated but remain close, the pair having attended Jude's games at the World Cup together this past summer

While in Germany, Mark reportedly held an emotional discussion with Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl after being left unhappy by Jobe's substitution at half-time during his Bundesliga debut.

German publication BILD added at the time that Mark sought a meeting with manager Niko Kovac directly - and 'made no secret of his opinion.' The club proceeded to ban all family members from the dressing room following the incident.

Mark’s influence as an agent is said to have stretched to Jude’s media duties when with England. Notably, the player has gone out of his way to speak more at this most recent World Cup, but at previous tournaments he had avoided speaking beyond his obligations despite his increasing influence within the squad.

Mark and Jude and Jobe's mother, Denise, are understood to have separated but remain close, the pair having attended Jude's games at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico this past summer.

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