Usually League One games in English soccer don't generate many headlines. It's a little different, however, when some of the owners involved are globally popular.
Birmingham City saw future NFL Hall of Famer Tom Brady purchase a share of the club to be a minority owner in 2023, but proceeded to relegate after a dismal start under soccer icon Wayne Rooney.
That set the stage Monday for a home clash against Wrexham, famously co-led by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Red Dragons have climbed the English soccer pyramid the last few seasons, and The fans let Brady have it with an NSFW chant during their game.
"Who the f---ing hell are you?" Wrexham fans chanted as Brady walked by on the pitch. The 47-year-old responded with a thumbs up and pointed at a specific spot in the crowd while smiling.
Despite Jack Marriott's third-minute opener for Wrexham, Birmingham responded with a brace from league-record signing Jay Stanfield (22', 52') and another from Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata in the 59th.
Brady and McElhenney also talked on the pitch before the game, while the former New England Patriots star made an appearance on Sky Sports Football to discuss his ownership of the club.
Wrexham still leads the table despite the loss due to goal difference, but Birmingham City has a game in hand. Both clubs, though, have at least 40 league games left, so it's too early to tell if either will make a serious challenge to reach the EFL Championship.
Birmingham City's Win Was a Good Learning Curve for Wrexham, Says Manager Phil Parkinson
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says defeat by Birmingham City was a League One learning curve for his team, admitting they did not handle the pressure.
The newly promoted north Wales side suffered their first loss of the campaign as they went down 3-1 to Blues at a sold-out St Andrew’s.
Two goals from record signing Jay Stansfield and a third from Tomoki Iwata was just reward for a dominant display from the hosts.
But Parkinson, who saw his side threaten to upset the promotion favourites after Jack Marriott’s early opener, said his men should have responded better when Chris Davies’ side turned the screw, to the delight of a raucous home crowd.
“Their [first] goal knocked us too much,” said Parkinson, whose side remain top on goal difference.
“And then we didn’t judge the ball quick enough for the next two goals – and if you give time to the quality of players Birmingham have got they will produce quality.
“But for us as a group it’s a good learning curve. We’ve hardly conceded a goal this season, we’ve not been behind in a game, but we have been behind in pivotal games over the last few years and we have responded better than we did here.”
Marriott’s fourth of the season less than three minutes into the highly anticipated game suggested Wrexham had rattled Birmingham, Parkinson saying the hosts looked “nervy” in the opening exchanges in front of the spotlight provided by the presence of their minority owner Tom Brady.
He added: “The way we played we looked like a team playing with assurance and confidence – as we should because we came here top.
“But the goal changed the feeling in stadium. They were very good after, but we could have done better. It wasn’t a lack of effort, but we have to learn from it and we will take lessons into the next games.
“Any defeat is tough to take, but we have to be realistic in terms of where we’ve come from. At the start of the season after six games – and the first three away games at Bolton, Peterborough and Birmingham – and to have only been beaten once, we would have taken it.
“They have spent more money than any team outside of the Premier League, and have good quality players, but there are areas to improve. It’s about responding and if we come up against that situation again, when we’re under pressure, can we do better?”
Parkinson says he remains excited about the games in front of his side, but admits Birmingham’s spending power has put them in an enviable position.
He added: “Every player we were going for, they were outbidding us or offering more wages; it was almost 'let them sign who they want and everyone else will look for what else is out there'.
“No-one can compete in this division in terms of their spending and it would have been madness for us. If I was in their position, you’d get the best possible players you can and that’s what they’ve done.
“But as much as we haven’t got carried away with our start, you can’t get too carried away with Birmingham. With the options they’ve got, they will take some beating.
“It was a good performance by them, but there is a lot of football to be played.”
The Hollywood Derby Is Only Just Beginning
This first encounter was a hot-ticket item, a clash of the titans in a league usually filled with quiet and unassuming clubs. The attention was on both Brady and Reynolds, who were both seen chatting on the pitch before the game. The atmosphere was thick with excitement, as was the presence of David Beckham, who was sitting next to Brady in the stands. However, this was just the first act in a long-running drama. Both clubs are fighting for promotion to the EFL Championship, and this clash was just the start of what promises to be a thrilling and captivating rivalry. Will Brady and Reynolds continue to bring their star power to this small-time league, or will the battle for the top of the table come down to pure, unadulterated football?
