Who is Mark Bellingham? Ex-footballer and dad of Jude who Geoff Hurst called ‘disgrace’

Mark Bellingham, the dad of Jude and Jobe, attracted criticism from Sir Geoff Hurst for confronting a club official before news of his split from their mum Denise emerged

Mark Bellingham has played an integral role in the incredible rise of his sons, Jude and Jobe. A footballer himself, Mark combined playing in non-league while serving in the police.

He eventually retired from the force to guide the brothers’ careers along with their mother, Denise. It’s fair to say that Jude and Jobe wouldn’t be where they are without their father’s guidance but Mark, 49, has ruffled a few feathers too, having recently confronted a key figure at Borussia Dortmund after his youngest was taken off in a game.

Jude was surprisingly left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, raising question marks about his World Cup hopes, while the Bellingham parents have been back in the headlines this week regarding their private lives.

Early life and police career

Born and raised in Southend, Mark supported his local club before moving to the Midlands. After entering law enforcement, he rose through the ranks at West Midlands Police, where he served as a sergeant.

Non-league star

The apples didn’t fall far from the tree when it came to the Bellingham brothers. While Mark wasn’t at his sons’ levels, he enjoyed a highly respected career in the non-league game.

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham’s dad branded ‘absolute disgrace’ by Sir Geoff Hurst after confrontationREAD MORE: Man Utd eye Jobe Bellingham transfer as Ruben Amorim makes feelings clear on deal

He played for numerous clubs, including Leamington, Stourbridge, Sutton Coldfield and Halesowen, often turning out for midweek matches before heading to his night shifts in the police. He ended his playing career in the late 2010s with more than 700 goals.

Role in sons’ lives

After retiring from the police, Mark focused on managing his sons’ careers, playing a vital role in Jude’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid and Jobe’s switch from Sunderland to Dortmund. Their dad’s footballing credentials and work ethic have clearly contributed to Jude and Jobe’s ability and driven attitude. Their mum, Denise, 57, has been central too.

When Jude left boyhood club Birmingham City at the age of 17 to sign for Dortmund in 2020, Denise moved with him, while Mark remained at home with Jobe. In 2023, when Jude joined Real Madrid and Jobe signed for Sunderland, Mark followed Jobe to the north-east, while Denise moved to Spain with Jude.

Speaking about his parents, Jobe once said: “Before being great parents, they’re great people. I’ve grown up around them and seen the way they interact with other people, seen the way they treat people.

“When you have people like that, you don’t have to be told how to behave, you pick that up from them… working hard and if you want something, putting in the graft to go and get it.”

Clashes with media

Mark has reportedly been involved in heated exchanges with members of the media. According to the Daily Mail, a reporter of another outlet was “met with a stream of invective that was unpleasant enough and hostile enough for him to be startled” after asking him about Jobe’s future following an intra-squad England Under-21s match at St George’s Park. Mark is said to have had other clashes with reporters.

Geoff Hurst criticism

Mark has incurred the wrath of England World Cup-winning legend Sir Geoff Hurst for confronting a Dortmund official after Jobe had been substituted in a match against St Pauli. He reportedly got into a heated altercation with Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, voicing his frustration over both the substitution and Dortmund’s performance in the 3-3 draw. The incident made headlines in Germany and caught the eye of World Cup hero Hurst.

The last living member of England’s starting XI from their 1966 triumph over Germany was speaking at an event in Bristol, where he made his thoughts clear about Bellingham Snr. Per the Sun, he said: “A thing that has irritated me is a picture in one of the papers about the most powerful man in English football – and it’s Jude Bellingham’s father.

“He was complaining when his son was taken off in a game – and that is an absolute joke. If you don’t eradicate that kind of thing, that is an absolute disgrace.”

After the incident, Dortmund reiterated a ban on agents and family members from the dressing room area. Kehl said: “We are all disappointed with yesterday’s result. And yet, the active area is and remains reserved for players, coaches and management, not families and advisers. That won’t happen again. We have clearly informed everyone involved of this.”

Split from his wife

Having guided their sons’ careers so adeptly, Mark and Denise have reportedly split after more than two decades of marriage. Recently, the pair were pictured sitting apart to watch Jobe’s game against Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, leading to rumours about their marriage.

Following reports in Germany of a “dangerously tense atmosphere” surrounding the family at the game, sources close to the couple have confirmed that Mark has grown close to Shelley Punshon, a detective constable in the West Mercia police.

Ms Punshon is a divorced mother of two from Stourbridge, West Midlands, where the Bellinghams brought up their sons. It is unclear how the pair met, but Ms Punshon uploaded a picture of the couple together to her public Facebook profile in August. The snap sees a smiling Mark standing behind Ms Punshon with an arm around her.

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