​A mural featuring England stars Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers enjoying orange chips has appeared in Birmingham, painted on the side of the Classic Fryer chippy in Quinton. The artwork, which shows the Black Country-born footballers tucking into the local battered chips, was created by Dudley artist Dion Kitson. Kitson shared a video on his Instagram on Friday showing him applying the mural to the Hagley Road building, describing the piece as coming “from the heart of the Black Country.” In a follow-up post, he called the two players “two star boys” and thanked Classic Fryer for being “great sports.”
The timing coincides with England’s World Cup quarter-final clash against Norway, set to kick off in Miami at 22:00 BST on Saturday. On social media, viewers praised the mural, with many calling it “brilliant.” One commenter wrote, “Saw this yesterday and wondered who it was, great work.”
Jude Bellingham, born in Stourbridge, has emerged as one of England’s standout players in the tournament, notably scoring twice in rapid succession to help England defeat Mexico in the Round of 16. His football journey began at Stourbridge Juniors, progressed through Birmingham City’s youth system, and culminated in his first-team breakthrough there. He later joined Borussia Dortmund in Germany before signing for Real Madrid in 2023.
Morgan Rogers, also 23, hails from Halesowen and attended Sandwell Academy, where he helped his school win the National Schools Cup in 2017. Rogers developed in West Bromwich Albion’s youth system and made his professional debut for the first team in 2019. He then joined Manchester City, followed by loan spells at Lincoln City, Bournemouth, and Blackpool. In 2023 he moved to Middlesbrough for seven months before signing with Aston Villa, where he has since accumulated 85 appearances and 21 goals.
For ongoing local coverage and updates, follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Stories highlighting Bellingham’s hometown pride and the path that brought both players to the international stage have drawn attention, exploring how Bellingham’s rise and Rogers’s development reflect the broader talent pipeline from the Black Country to the national team. The mural stands as a cultural note alongside the football narrative, celebrating regional roots in tandem with England’s World Cup campaign. Dion Kitson’s work has quickly become a talking point among fans who see it as a playful yet meaningful homage to two homegrown talents.