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BIRMINGHAM, England — Legendary quarterback Tom Brady is used to a unique form of “Monday Evening Soccer,” however he was simply one in all a number of superstars in attendance at St Andrew’s as his Birmingham City facet ended Wrexham‘s unbeaten begin to life in League One because of a 3-1 win on Monday.
Supporters had been speaking in regards to the bedlam surrounding the well-known outdated stadium even three hours earlier than the 8 p.m. kickoff.
That is what occurs when you may have Brady, Rob McElhenney and David Beckham on the town for the match billed because the “Hollywood Derby.” There have been strategies that Ryan Reynolds — Wrexham co-owner with McElhenney — could be in attendance, however his view of the motion got here because of being FaceTimed in by McElhenney earlier than kickoff.
“You possibly can really feel the vitality within the stadium,” Brady mentioned on Sky Sports activities earlier than the match. “We’re excited. It should be an incredible match. Should you love soccer you need to be watching this tonight.”
Brady has a 3.3% stake in Birmingham Metropolis and flew in specifically for the match. He was seen on the pitch earlier than the match throwing an American soccer with the Blues.
The 🐐 has arrived. pic.twitter.com/HZOKwUgPC2
— Birmingham Metropolis FC (@BCFC) September 16, 2024
After fielding a number of media interviews, he handed McElhenney a Birmingham shirt with the No. 12 on the again, after which later was paraded across the exterior of the sphere. He acquired a superb welcome however for the Wrexham followers who combined applauding the person thought to be one of many best ever to play within the NFL with a serenade of “Who the f—ing hell are you?”
“We wish success on the pitch and the way we try this, we’ll have our personal course of for that,” Brady mentioned earlier than the match. “However the finish end result, we need to be profitable and that is what we’re dedicated to. I really like sports activities and I really like being part of this membership.”
McElhenney flew in having attended the Emmys on Sunday in Los Angeles and was on the forefront of the prematch hype. Wrexham enlisted former quarterback Eli Manning as a fan for the day, utilizing his report of getting helped the New York Giants to 2 Tremendous Bowl wins over Brady’s New England Patriots in 2008 and 2012 as a tasty subplot.
Brady responded by declaring his unbelievable array of awards, which led to Manning enlisting some assist from actor Hugh Jackman on social media.
Pre-match stare down commenced @TomBrady @BCFC @Wrexham_AFC pic.twitter.com/2NL3LJYaXO
— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) September 16, 2024
However nonetheless, this was a mere subplot to the match itself between two unbeaten groups in League One, and a pair of promotion hopefuls. Birmingham have spent large this summer time — near £30m — and shattered the membership and league report to herald Jay Stansfield for a payment believed to be round £15 million.
Birmingham had been trying to bounce again to the English League Championship on the first time of asking after relegation final season. Then there’s Wrexham, full with their back-to-back promotions and aspirations of constructing the Premier League, below the steering of the Reynolds-McElhenney partnership.
There was nonetheless room for yet another superstar shock. With Beckham — and son Romeo — sitting to the left of Brady within the Birmingham director’s field, his ex-Manchester United and England teammate Gary Neville was additionally at St Andrew’s.
Oh and this man is right here as properly… pic.twitter.com/4lE7bK2Gzr
— Birmingham Metropolis FC (@BCFC) September 16, 2024
“We have introduced loads of worldwide consideration to a League One match,” mentioned Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner on his evaluation of the event, and his crew responded with a superb efficiency after overcoming an early scare.
It was the guests who took the lead after simply two minutes with Jack Marriott bundling residence a nook. McElhenney was refrained within the stands at seeing his Wrexham facet go a purpose up, however Brady was way more animated when Stansfield tapped residence a rebound on his return to the Blues after Arthur Okonkwo spilled a long-range Alfie May effort.
With the sport locked at 1-1 on the break, it was Birmingham who took the lead within the 52nd minute as Stansfield headed residence a superb Alex Cochrane cross. And Birmingham’s pleasure was additional fuelled simply seven minutes later when Tomoki Iwata struck residence superbly from 25 yards out.
Oh actually it was Rob, it actually was. https://t.co/GDHhe9iTsy
— Birmingham Metropolis FC (@BCFC) September 16, 2024
Brady was later noticed within the crowd applauding as a mass brawl broke out as gamers from either side took umbrage with each other, nevertheless it was Birmingham — who had skipper Krystian Bielik despatched off for a second yellow within the 86th minute — who stored management of the match to provide Brady the bragging rights within the first Hollywood Derby.
