NFL nice Tom Brady obtained the higher of film stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney within the unlikely environment of English third-tier soccer as Birmingham beat Wrexham 3-1 within the ‘Hollywood derby’ on Monday. Brady is a minority shareholder in promotion-chasing Birmingham, whereas Reynolds and McElhenney are co-owners of League One leaders Wrexham. The conflict at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s floor featured significantly extra off-field star energy within the stands than was current on the pitch.
Brady was seated subsequent to former England soccer captain David Beckham, one in every of Beckham’s sons and high-profile pundit Gary Neville, who performed alongside Beckham for each Manchester United and England.
McElhenney was additionally current as Wrexham suffered their first league lack of the season, whereas Birmingham remained unbeaten.
Deadpool star Reynolds and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor McElhenney purchased Wrexham in 2020, with their shock takeover chronicled within the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ docu-series that gave the beforehand unheralded Welsh membership a world cult following.
Wrexham have since loved a exceptional rise from the fifth-tier National League to League One with back-to-back promotions.
Birmingham, against this, have endured the darkest interval of their latest historical past since Brady was concerned in a 2023 takeover headed by his pal Tom Wagner, a US-based businessman.
Brady, who retired in 2023 after 23 seasons within the NFL, was a seven-time Super Bowl champion as quarterback for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But Birmingham had been relegated to League One final season for the primary time since 1995, with Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney — sacked following a depressing 83-day reign — amongst six managers utilized by the Blues in a chaotic marketing campaign.
Former Tottenham assistant coach Chris Davies seems to be restoring order, nevertheless, with Monday’s win taking Birmingham degree on factors with Wrexham, with a sport in hand.
Jack Marriott gave Wrexham an early lead however £10 million ($13 million) signing Jay Stansfield went some approach to repaying an costly switch payment by equalising for Birmingham and later heading the hosts in entrance within the 52nd minute.
Seven minutes later, Japan midfielder Tomoki Iwata’s very good strike made it 3-1.
But, as with all the most effective Hollywood thrillers, there was a late twist, with Birmingham diminished to 10 males when Krystian Bielik was despatched off for a second yellow card after a reckless problem on Andy Cannon.
Even so, there was by no means any hazard of Wrexham masterminding the type of ‘comeback drive’ related to Brady’s stellar profession because the sportsman’s staff defeated the actors’ aspect.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
Topics talked about on this article
