In an unusual match between English third-tier football teams, NFL legend Tom Brady defeated movie actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as Birmingham defeated Wrexham 3-1 in the ‘Hollywood derby’ on Monday. League One leaders Wrexham is co-owned by Reynolds and McElhenney, while Brady is a minority shareholder in promotion-chasing Birmingham. There was a lot more star power off the field in the fans during the match at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s venue than there was on it.

In an unusual match between English third-tier football teams, NFL legend Tom Brady defeated movie actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as Birmingham defeated Wrexham 3-1 in the ‘Hollywood derby’ on Monday. League One leaders Wrexham is co-owned by Reynolds and McElhenney, while Brady is a minority shareholder in promotion-chasing Birmingham. There was a lot more star power off the field in the fans during the match at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s venue than there was on it.

With back-to-back promotions, Wrexham has since experienced an incredible ascent from the fifth-tier National League to League One.

In contrast, Birmingham has seen its worst moment since Brady participated in a takeover in 2023 that was led by his friend, US-based businessman Tom Wagner.

As the quarterback for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady won seven Super Bowls before retiring in 2023 after 23 seasons in the NFL.

The Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who was fired after a miserable 83-day reign, was one of six managers Birmingham used during a disorganized campaign that saw them relegated to League One for the first time since 1995.

Wrexham took an early lead thanks to Jack Marriott, but Jay Stansfield, who cost £10 million ($13 million) to acquire, helped Birmingham level the score and then put the home team ahead in the 52nd minute with a header from Tomoki Iwata, the midfielder from Japan. Seven minutes later, the score was 3-1 thanks to a brilliant strike from Iwata, but, as in all the best Hollywood thrillers, there was a late twist when Krystian Bielik was sent off for a second yellow card following a careless challenge on Andy Cannon, reduced Birmingham to 10 men.