Birmingham CEO wants Wrexham game in USA

Birmingham City‘s chief executive Garry Cook has said he would like to see his club play Wrexham in an official league game in the United States.

Birmingham, who are part-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, beat Wrexham and their Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds 3-1 in League One on Monday, with the former Patriots and Buccaneers QB looking on from the stands.

Asked by the BBC if the game could have been played on American soil this season, Cook replied: “Well personally I think that is a great idea, but I think the EFL (English Football League) wouldn’t see it that way, and I think the history and tradition of our sport and our league tries to ensure that that doesn’t happen.

“That doesn’t stop making it a global game even though you’re playing here in Birmingham.”

The build-up to Monday’s game between the two teams in English football’s third tier has been dominated by a back-and-forth between Eli Manning and Tom Brady, with the former announcing his newfound Wrexham fandom on Friday, before long-time gridiron rival Brady responded with a boast about his Super Bowl titles.

The game at St Andrew’s in Birmingham, England, sees two unbeaten sides go head-to-head. Wrexham are in first place in the third tier of English football with four wins and a draw, while Birmingham have played four matches and have three wins and a draw.

The game has been unofficially dubbed the “Hollywood Derby.”