“A killer in front of the goal”
BVB star’s father plays in the district league
Updated on December 4, 2025 – 6:31 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The father of the Bellingham brothers is suddenly involved in German amateur football. He impresses with his goalscoring qualities.
Mark Bellingham has been living in Herdecke since his son Jobe Bellingham moved to Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Nobody initially expected that the father of BVB professional and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham would soon be playing there himself. But a simple visit to the pitch gave the 49-year-old a new sporting perspective.
As the “Westfalenpost” reports, the former English amateur striker appeared on the grounds of FC Herdecke-Ende in September. With the desire to simply train with older players, he introduced himself to the club’s officials. Bellingham said: “I’m Mark. I’m looking for a place to play football with older men.” After just a few sessions he signed his membership application. Many people only noticed later that the new teammate was closely related to two well-known professionals. Club boss Marcel Schünke was taken aback when registering and remembers: “Suddenly everyone in the dressing room speaks English.”
Mark Bellingham is now a regular on the pitch. He was already used in the club’s second team, which plays in the district league B, where he scored three times in two games. He was also active in the Old Men’s Cup: he scored two goals on his debut against Berchum/Garenfeld. “Mark is simply a killer in front of the goal. In addition to three goals in two games, he also prepared another goal,” says Schünke.
It no longer surprises anyone in Herdecke that the Englishman has a lot to offer in terms of football. During his playing days, Bellingham scored over 700 goals in England’s seventh division and actually ended his career at the end of the 2010s. Since then, he has concentrated on the careers of his sons, to whom he has apparently passed on his footballing talent.
Unlike in the professional sector, Bellingham is modest in Herdecke. According to club boss Schünke, he is “just the private person who isn’t afraid to throw in a case of beer or stand in the rain at the bratwurst stand.” Even on the pitch he shows himself to be collegial and without any airs.
Mark Bellingham quickly adapted to his new surroundings. At BVB, however, he recently caused a stir when he clashed with sports director Sebastian Kehl in the locker room after a 3-3 draw against FC St. Pauli. In Herdecke, however, the focus is not on his role as the father of professionals, but rather on his goalscoring qualities.