So, when David Beckham strode through the car park outside St Andrew’s shortly before Birmingham City vs Wrexham kicked off, it was perhaps understandable that the heads of supporters also making their way into the stadium should turn so fast that some seemed in danger of suffering a whiplash injury.
Monday nights in England’s self-styled Second City are not supposed to involve a flying visit from the former England captain. Nor, it should be said, is a fixture in English football’s third tier where you’d expect to see someone with Beckham’s global profile.
But that’s the reality in an age when celebrity ownership has come to what Pele used to call “the beautiful game”.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over National League side Wrexham in February 2021 set the ball rolling on a trend that has since seen Hollywood comedy giant Will Ferrell get involved at Leeds United and former NFL star JJ Watt become a part-owner at Burnley.
Then there’s Tom Brady at Birmingham, who is arguably the greatest NFL player ever. He took a minority shareholding in the former Premier League club a little over a year ago.
He is believed to be a step or two removed from day-to-day operations, as you’d expect with someone who has an extensive business portfolio in the U.S., never mind a new job with Fox Sports as a pundit commentating on the NFL.
But Brady’s influence is still keenly felt, not least in terms of player nutrition and recovery, with Alex Guerrero, a long-time ally of the seven-time Super Bowl champion, having a significant input as an advisor to Birmingham.
His pulling power also remains pretty impressive, judging by Beckham’s surprise visit to St Andrew’s. Along with wife Victoria, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has struck up a close friendship with Brady.
They have been photographed together countless times, including a family meal out at a Miami pizzeria with their kids. Beckham has also taken to social media in the past to have a laugh with the legendary quarterback, who set up home in Florida following his retirement.
In many ways, the Brady-Beckham friendship is a natural alliance. Both remain iconic figures after spending years at the top of their respective sports, winning every club honour there was to win.
The pair have also moved into sports ownership since hanging up their boots, with Beckham joining Jose Mas and Jorge Mas at the helm of Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Messi, considered by many to be among the greatest football players of all time, is on the club’s roster and leading the push to give the game a firm foothold in the USA.
Just last month, the injured Argentinian World Cup winner joined both Brady and Beckham in the stands in Fort Lauderdale as Miami took on Cincinnati.
The trio were all smiles as they chatted before kick-off, Beckham enjoying himself judging by the photo he posted later on Instagram with the caption: “The Greatest — doesn’t get any better”.
A 2-0 victory for Miami will no doubt have helped the mood on an afternoon when Brady was presented with his own Inter Miami jersey at half-time by his good friend.
Monday saw Brady return that favour via an invite to join him in the directors’ box at Birmingham after earlier spending time in an executive box with Gary Neville, Beckham’s former United team-mate and his best man when he married Victoria. The trio were joined by Beckham’s son Romeo.
As with that home win for Miami in August, there was plenty for the pair to celebrate as two goals from Jay Stansfield and a thumping finish by Tomoki Iwata clinched a deserved 3-1 win in the battle of celebrity owners.
Brady was an animated figure throughout, as you’d perhaps expect from someone attending only their third home game after taking in last season’s visits of Leeds United and Rotherham United.
All three goals brought the 47-year-old to his feet, as did the two sets of players confronting each other late on after tempers had boiled over following a clash between Krystian Bielik and Paul Mullin.
This was actually the second time Beckham had watched Wrexham live. He attended the 2022 FA Trophy final against Bromley at Wembley as a guest of Reynolds, the Welsh club’s co-owner alongside McElhenney.
He joined the Deadpool star, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator McElhenney, and actor Ferrell in an executive box at the national stadium but, like Monday night in Birmingham, there was to be no Hollywood ending for Wrexham, who lost that final.
As for Brady, however, he may well see his friend Beckham as something of a lucky charm after watching Birmingham lay down a clear marker in the League One promotion race. Expect another St Andrew’s invite to be winging its way to Beckham Towers before very long.
The Battle of Celebrity Owners
American television royalty, an NFL legend and a global football icon.
And yet, by the end, Rob McElhenney, Tom Brady and David Beckham were only the cameos to the top billing at St Andrew’s.
Because, as Birmingham City and Wrexham reminded us in Blues’ 3-1 victory, no-one comes to a game to look at the stands.
Yes, there was the fascination of the surreal nature of it all, the high-profile directors' box unlike anything League One had seen before.
And few would deny the importance of the financial and ambitious drive of the owners to their respective clubs - and in somehow making a third-tier game a must-watch to audiences beyond the EFL regulars.
But, as ever with football, it is what happens on the pitch that will always create the best drama and the best headlines.
And it is how the support reacts that sucks everyone in, whether among the A-list stars or in the cheapest seats, it is the same mix of atmosphere and adrenaline. The addictive hope, the crushing blow of a comeback, the rush of getting carried away with what could be next.
It was all there at St Andrew's. For Wrexham fans wondering if they can continue their incredible rise only to be reminded of the size of the challenge. For Birmingham fans loudly believing they can return to bigger and better things.
Football has that habit of being the great unifier.
Perhaps even more so at this level. The headliners may be used to the elite, but here in the third tier, it is all a little more raw and more raucous, a little more desperate and dreamy.
It is why Blues minority shareholder Brady, of unparalleled success in his own sport, was the same as scores of other home fans as they celebrated what already felt like a significant performance and result.
It is why Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds – only present courtesy of a video call from fellow chairman McElhenney – had to take the mocking songs in good humour.
And it is why, by the end of it, the talk was more of Jay Stansfield’s goals, of tempers boiling over, and of waiting until the 'Hollywood' rematch at the Racecourse in January.
Stansfield the Star
Of course, this is nothing new for Wrexham.
Headlines and film crews have followed their success for some time.
Birmingham boss Chris Davies said afterwards he had not been distracted by the profile, but admitted he was pleased his players had managed to keep focus and show why their costly squad are rightly tipped to head straight back up.
They had known Brady was in town, arriving with a beige coat and gleaming smile, more west coast of America than West Midlands.
Pre-game interviews included a couple of throws of the American football as the squad completed a pre-match stroll.
Beckham, though, was somewhat of a surprise as he returned the favour to Brady, who recently attended a match at the former England captain’s MLS side Inter Miami.
Director Guy Ritchie was also due to attend, but sent his apologies on the morning of the match.
It is hard to say it did not add to the anticipation, especially with the social media rivalry between the owners - although, unsurprisingly, that turned out to be something of a ruse.
“I’ve been friends with Ryan and Rob for quite a while,” Brady said before the game having presented McElhenney with a personalised Birmingham shirt.
“I’ve seen everything they’ve done with Wrexham, and I've been very impressed by their commitment.
“They're doing a lot of things the right way, they're two humble guys, hard-working and it's something for us all to emulate. Everyone should learn from that experience.”
Brady is not wrong, given it was only three years ago Phil Parkinson was taking charge of his first match as Wrexham manager, seven miles down the road at Solihull - where the ground's capacity was less than the 2,200 fans who made the trip from north Wales for this game.
It should not be forgotten Wrexham – and more than half of the starting side at St Andrew's - were still playing fifth-tier football 16 months ago.
They have more than earned the right to be at this level, the club having been away from League One for nigh-on two decades.
That they have hardly put a foot wrong since the step up is testament to Parkinson's team.
Unbeaten and good for it, it had been a dream start – but this was something of a reality check.
Even in the first 10 minutes, when a front-foot Wrexham rattled the hosts with their press and Jack Marriott's opening goal, it had that feel of a cup tie with the early adrenaline.
After that, Birmingham just looked a cut above. Be it the moments of quality, forcing the errors, or taking away Wrexham hope, it was an example of what it will take to be at the very top of this division.
Not many will match Blues on this form, let alone a newly promoted side who for the first time found the jump a little too big. The game and the result said more about Blues than it did about Wrexham, even if Parkinson said his side could have responded better once behind. Dare you say it, Birmingham looked a Championship side in all but name.
If they are to come good on such promise, Stansfield is likely to have a big say.
His deadline day signing was not so much a statement from Birmingham but an exclamation mark.
His £10m-plus arrival is an unprecedented fee for this level, and with it might have come unprecedented pressure to deliver. Price tags have weighed down even the very best of players.
Yet, on his first league involvement since his eye-catching deal for an eye-watering amount, the former loan star simply looked lifted by it.
Whichever way you look at it, it is an expensive outlay for a third-tier club, American money or not. But if financiers make their reputation by knowing when to speculate, Blues majority owner Tom Wagner watching on will have been happy enough if this is a sign of the potential return.
Manager Davies was convinced that he could have a double-threat with the former Fulham man and Charlton recruit Alfie May, and he was vindicated when Stansfield pounced after May's shot was parried for the leveller.
And then the movement and reaction for the second was a player feeling at home in front of the fans already enamoured with his talent, after his 13-goal spell here last season.
Of course, the spectating Beckham would have nodded approvingly at Alex Cochrane's delicious cross for the second.
But Stansfield did not look back as he raced to celebrate. With this kind of service, you will wonder if he will look back at all.
As for Wrexham, they will look back on the night as a mark of where they need to get to, and will continue to move forward with stars in the stands and a few in their eyes.
The Real Stars of the Show
The BBC suggested the game was the biggest in the history of England’s League One and it certainly brought new attention and glamour, as well as a smile to the face of Brady.
It took a while for that famous grin to emerge.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion watched from the stands alongside his friend David Beckham and must have squirmed when Jack Marriott put Wrexham ahead after just three minutes.
Birmingham, though, stormed back with record signing Jay Stansfield in fine form.
Stansfield equalized midway through the first half, then headed Birmingham ahead seven minutes into the second period.
Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata added a third nearly an hour in as Birmingham dominated in front of its own fans.
Birmingham’s Krystian Bielik was issued a red card with four minutes remaining but it was too late for the Welsh side to react.
