Bellingham is reportedly enjoying one of the tournament’s strongest individual campaigns. He scored two goals against Norway and is said to have reached six goals, level with England captain Harry Kane.
After the match, supporters serenaded him with “Hey Jude”, the Beatles song that has become England’s soundtrack throughout the competition. The scene reportedly moved Bellingham, while former England captain David Beckham joined the celebration in the stands.
For Jessica, a local clinic manager, the song has crossed generations. “They keep walking around the house singing too,” she said of her children.
The support stretches well beyond match nights. A railway operator is reportedly offering free journeys to passengers named Jude, while a London station has temporarily taken Bellingham’s name. In nearby Hagley, pubs have become meeting points for a community united behind one player.
“Hagley normally is a community that is very specific and quiet, but it seems we have all entered the same space to support Jude,” Vienna Letts said.
That sense of connection explains why Bellingham’s success feels different from a distant sporting triumph. He is not simply England’s midfield star; he remains, as Hall put it, someone who “keeps in touch with his roots”.
Now the focus turns to the semifinal. Bellingham’s composure, attacking threat and emotional connection with supporters will be central to England’s hopes, while every Stourbridge pub and mural will be waiting for another defining moment.
A place that watched him grow is now watching to see whether its hometown hero can take England one step closer to the World Cup final.