WE ARE FAMILY

Meet the heroes so crucial to Our Boys' success

- PATRICK HILL

THEY are brothers in arms on the pitch, off it England superstars' success is a family affair.

Millions of fans cheering on Our Boys owe a debt of gratitude to the players' nurturing, supportive parents.

Two of the heroes behind the heroes are Jude Bellingham's proud parents Mark and Denise.

Real Madrid star Jude, 21, is said to have been moulded by ex-West Midlands police sergeant Mark, a once prolific non-league striker.

Jude said: "Seeing the way he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero."

Now a Fifa-licenced agent, Mark guides the midfielder's career. Jude, whose 18-year-old brother Jobe plays for Sunderland, said: "He'd always give me tips on what I could do and now it gets to a certain age and it sort of flips and that's brilliant."