Wrexham and Birmingham City Set for Championship Clash
All eyes will be on the Stok Cae Ras this Friday night as Wrexham takes on Birmingham City in the Championship at 20:00 BST.
Both clubs earned automatic promotion from League One last season and are set to face off again in north Wales, following two thrilling encounters last year.
The high-profile ownership of both clubs guarantees significant attention, not just on the players on the pitch but also on the personalities off it.
This is a narrative that extends beyond just the two communities involved, capturing the interest of fans across the United Kingdom.
A History of Rivalry
Since the takeover of Wrexham by Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds in 2021, the duo has playfully targeted local rivals Chester, who currently play in the National League North, four divisions below Wrexham.
The two have humorously included the phrase "Always beat Chester*" in their club’s mission statement, with an asterisk indicating, "*If we ever play Chester again."
During their rapid ascent through the football leagues, Wrexham has faced intense competition from various teams, including Notts County, Stockport County, and Sheffield United. The matches against Notts County were particularly thrilling, while encounters with Stockport and Sheffield United were marked by a more intense rivalry.
Birmingham City finds itself somewhere in between, and the anticipation surrounding their first league match last season was substantial. Among the attendees were football legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, who joined Wrexham co-owner McElhenney and Birmingham part-owner Tom Brady in the stands as Birmingham triumphed 3-1 over Wrexham at St Andrews, a match dubbed the 'Hollywood derby.'
In their second fixture later in the season, Wrexham managed a 1-1 draw, but both teams enjoyed a successful campaign overall. Birmingham finished the 2024-25 season as champions of the third tier, amassing a record 111 points, while Wrexham secured the runner-up position with 92 points.
Boosting the Profile
The ownership groups have significantly raised both clubs' profiles, particularly in the United States, where interest has surged. Following Wrexham's lead, Birmingham produced their own behind-the-scenes documentary titled Built In Birmingham: Brady & the Blues , which premiered before the current season.
Notable figures from these documentaries have made the matchups increasingly captivating. In August, a video featuring Swansea City co-owner Snoop Dogg, Brady, and McElhenney garnered widespread attention online, showcasing the camaraderie among the club owners.
Before last season's match at St Andrews, Brady humorously referenced a line from McElhenney's sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia , presenting him with a Birmingham shirt featuring McElhenney's name and the number 12, a nod to Brady's illustrious NFL career. The signed shirt was later purchased by Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner, with the proceeds benefiting the Wrexham AFC Foundation.
This encounter was prominently featured in the latest season of the popular documentary Welcome to Wrexham , highlighting the marketing acumen of both clubs.
Leading up to their first meeting last season, Wrexham's manager Phil Parkinson motivated his players with an animated speech, urging them to engage in a "controlled tear-up." However, after their victory, Birmingham fans took the opportunity to taunt Wrexham, with quips like, "You’re not in the National League anymore" and "Welcome to the real world" directed at Wrexham's documentary crew.
Journalist Brian Dick, who covers Birmingham, remarked that both ownership groups have recognized the mutual benefits of their rivalry, noting how transfer rumors often linked players to both clubs this summer.
As they prepare for this season's encounters, Wrexham's media team cleverly announced their 2025-26 schedule with a video styled after the introduction to Star Wars , humorously dubbing Birmingham as 'Darth Birmingham City' in reference to the franchise's iconic villain.
Striving for Success in the Championship
What appears to be a friendly rivalry is underscored by a fierce ambition for success on both sides. Following their promotion, Wagner expressed Birmingham's goal of reaching the Premier League next year.
Meanwhile, Reynolds and McElhenney stated their intention to establish Wrexham AFC as a Premier League club upon taking over a team in the fifth tier National League.
The remarkable off-field efforts at both Stok Cae Ras and St Andrews have been instrumental in supporting the teams on the pitch. Wrexham reported a record turnover of £26.7 million for the year ending June 30, 2024, while Birmingham posted a revenue of £29.6 million for the same period, a record for a club in the third tier, despite the financial year occurring when they were in the Championship.
Both clubs are positioned for continued success this season. After a challenging start, Wrexham has shown improvement, securing notable away victories against Millwall and Norwich City, and entering the Birmingham match with only one loss in their last eight games across all competitions.
Following a 1-1 draw with Leicester City, who competed in the Premier League last season, Parkinson noted that his team is "definitely evolving."
Birmingham, too, has demonstrated their competitiveness since returning to the second tier, having accumulated 11 points from their first eight league matches. However, as the kickoff approaches this Friday, Wrexham midfielder Matty James emphasizes the importance of focusing on the game amidst the off-field distractions.
"The owners are superstars in their respective fields, and that naturally attracts a lot of media attention, which can sometimes distract from what’s actually happening on the pitch," James stated.