Yahoo News Inside Jude Bellingham's hometown where residents chant his name in Stourbridge streets
Jude Bellingham fever is taking over his hometown with his former school even encouraging children to sing 'Hey Jude' in assembly. The Stourbridge community is brimming with pride after their homegrown hero saved England's Euro chances with a spectacular overhead kick, equalising against Slovakia last night.
Bellingham honed his skills on the playgrounds and sports fields of the West Midlands town, growing up in the Hagley area before skyrocketing to fame. Residents have shared how Bellingham mania is rampant in the town following England's thrilling 2-1 comeback, setting up a quarter-final clash with Switzerland.
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At Hagley Primary School, where Jude was once a pupil, children are spontaneously breaking into renditions of 'Hey Jude' in both classrooms and assemblies. The 1968 Beatles track has become an unofficial anthem for England at Euro 2024, with even the Prime Minister urging the nation to join in.
Local mum-of-two Kelly Chamberlain, 36, whose children attend the school, said: "It's really exciting." She added: "It's great for the children to have that link to Bellingham who has helped put Stourbridge on the map."
She revealed: "When I dropped the kids off this morning, they were all singing Hey Jude in the playground and the teachers even have them singing it in class and assembly."
She concluded: "I'm not sure if it's every day but I know they have been getting them to sing it during the tournament, which I think is lovely. The great thing is how normal he seems. So it just helps show the children how you can achieve anything in life if you put your mind to it."
"We had around 10 people around yesterday and we thought we were out - it just had to be Jude with that goal. Let's hope it's turned our fortunes around now." Alan Ward, 52, of Stourbridge, added: "I've always followed football as a Derby fan since Brian Clough's days and supported England at every tournament."
"It's fantastic to have a local lad doing so well and he's probably one of the biggest names in football right now. We're all really proud to be associated with Stourbridge right now. This lad has really caught everyone's attention and seems a really nice guy too."
"Last night our home town hero saved England and probably Gareth Southgate's job too with his backwards somersault to hook into the net. I went and fished by England shirt out of the bin and put it back on again. We're back in this now."
"Let's hope he has inspired the rest of the team now to up their game. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed now we can go and do it."
"If Jude continues to play like that and urge the other players on, we've got to believe we can do it." Mark Mitchell, 63, of Bridgnorth, Shrops. , was born and still works in Stourbridge.
He said: "The town is really proud of him and how he is doing. He has gone from being a normal kid from Stourbridge to probably the biggest club in world football. And now if he could go and win the Euros with England, that would really top everything off."
"It all went in slow motion when that goal went in. I'd been driving home and listened to most of it on the radio - but I got home in time for that. It was a beautiful goal."
"It's great for the town. I have a friend who worked with his dad when he was a police officer and he was also a good amateur footballer too."
"I think we have a good balance with him and Kane as the young and old heads leading the way. Let's hope we can push on from here."
Stourbridge local Neil Porter, 38, was beaming with pride: "We're all bursting with pride, he has put little old Stourbridge on the map as a global footballing megastar. People who know the Bellinghams will tell you they are just the most down-to-earth, humble family you could ever come across."
"You can tell that when he speaks - he's just a normal kid with the world at his feet. "Let's hope he we can kick on from here with Jude leading by example."
