STOURBRIDGE (United Kingdom), July 15 — As England gears up for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday, one name is dominating conversations: Jude Bellingham, the star midfielder who powered the Three Lions into the marquee clash.
In packed stadiums across North America and pubs back home, fans have been belting out the Beatles’ Hey Jude and wearing shirts with slogans like “Bend it like Bellingham” – a playful nod to the iconic 2000s film Bend it like Beckham.
But nowhere is the 23-year-old midfielder more celebrated than his hometown of Stourbridge, a quiet market town in central England, west of Birmingham.
Wheeling his bike past the town’s shopping centre, retiree Keith Hall blew a kiss towards a superhero comic-style mural of Bellingham.
“He’s a local lad,” Hall told AFP, adding that Bellingham “keeps in touch with his roots” despite now playing for Real Madrid.
Bellingham began his football journey with Stourbridge Juniors before joining Birmingham City’s youth side and becoming the club’s youngest first-team player.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he’s become an international sensation because he’s the coolest man currently living,” gushed grocery store worker Sam Holden, 21.
“Harry Kane obviously can kind of save us in our time of need, but Jude Bellingham can just take us to the heights that England absolutely are capable of reaching.”
A regional railway company is offering passengers named “Jude” free travel in Stourbridge this week.
“We look forward to inviting Judes from across the region for a free ride on the Stourbridge Shuttle,” said Jonny Wiseman from West Midlands Railway.
The fever has even spread beyond the Black Country area, with a railway station in southeast London briefly renamed “Jude Bellingham” station.
‘King Jude’
In a pub in the village of Hagley near Stourbridge, Vienna Letts pulls pints and recalls the electric atmosphere whenever Bellingham and England take to the pitch.
“Hagley is quite a niche, quiet community normally, but it’s like we’ve all come into one space to just support Jude,” said Letts.
“No one would have thought that a boy from Stourbridge could be the top scorer and England could be in the semifinals.”
After scoring two stunning goals against Norway on Saturday to fire England into the semi-finals, Bellingham is tied with captain Harry Kane on six goals in the tournament.
A local shop has a portrait of Bellingham in its window, while one passer-by during an interview shouted “hail King Jude!”
In Birmingham, a mural has appeared showing Bellingham and fellow local Morgan Rogers enjoying a local delicacy – battered chips, dipped in orange batter and deep-fried.
“He’s like a hero for other local people, local children, knowing (if) you work hard, you can meet your dreams,” said Harpreet Basin, a 40-year-old teacher visiting the mural.
Back in Stourbridge, tanning salon manager Jessica said she had been hearing chants of “Hey Jude” around town during the World Cup.
“My children, they’ve now learned what that song is from it being sung at the football matches,” said Jessica. “They (go) round the house singing it as well.”
Bellingham appeared moved to tears after England’s match against Norway, when even football legend David Beckham joined thousands of fans serenading him with Hey Jude at the Miami Stadium. — AFP
