Mark Bellingham Earns England Veterans Call-Up After Prolific Non-League Career

Mark Bellingham, father of prominent England internationals Jude and Jobe, has earned his own international call-up to represent the England Veterans Over-50s side in an upcoming fixture against the Republic of Ireland.

The former non-league striker turned 50 in March and has secured a place in an 18-man squad for Sunday’s fixture at the Elite Football Complex in Cambridgeshire. Poised to win his first cap for his country, Bellingham follows his two sons onto the international stage after a 17-year career across the non-league pyramid that concluded in 2019 and spanned 22 different clubs.

During his active playing days, Bellingham turned out for Cheltenham Town and Newport County in the late 1990s before logging notable appearance tallies with Leamington between 2008 and 2009 and Bromsgrove Sporting in 2014. Having continued to feature regularly in veterans competitions since retiring, he has now broken into the national Over-50s setup.

The fixture forms part of a double-header of international football against the Republic of Ireland. An England Over-60s side will face Ireland at the same venue on the same afternoon. Confirming the schedule in an official statement, the England Veterans setup outlined the itinerary: “England Veterans have announced their squads for a double helping of international football against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday 1st November in Cambridgeshire. The Over 50’s kick off at 2:15pm and the Over 60’s at 4:15pm at the Elite Football Complex, Cambridgeshire.”

Bellingham’s selection adds another chapter to a remarkable family football legacy. His eldest son, Jude, has already earned 60 senior caps for the Three Lions at age 23, registering 14 goals and 15 assists. That total includes seven strikes at the 2026 World Cup, where he spearheaded the side alongside Harry Kane. Meanwhile, younger brother Jobe has become a central figure for the England Under-21s, contributing one goal and four assists across 12 outings while captaining the Young Lions in each of his last 11 appearances.

Bellingham Sr will aim to mark his international bow with a goal when the Over-50s match kicks off on Sunday afternoon. While their father makes his veterans debut, Jude and Jobe will return to their respective international duties with England later in November.