**Rob McElhenney Jests at David Beckham Over Football Loyalty Shift After Sighting at Rival Game**
Wrexham AFC’s Hollywood co-owner Rob McElhenney recently shared a humorous anecdote about his playful teasing of football legend David Beckham, following a conspicuous display of divided football loyalties. The light-hearted exchange occurred after Beckham was spotted at a key League One fixture—Wrexham’s away match against Birmingham City—an appearance that raised eyebrows among Dragons supporters and beyond.
Beckham, renowned not just for his illustrious playing career but also as co-owner of Inter Miami, had previously displayed his support for Wrexham during the FA Trophy final at Wembley back in 2022. On that occasion, Beckham was photographed alongside McElhenney and fellow Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, lending a sprinkle of football royalty to the up-and-coming club’s ambitions. The goodwill, however, appeared to shift somewhat when Beckham attended Wrexham’s tie against Birmingham City the following season, this time seated among Blues fans as a guest of part-owner and NFL superstar Tom Brady.
In a candid conversation on the “Men in Blazers” podcast, McElhenney recounted how he gently ribbed Beckham for what looked like a change in allegiances. “I gave Beckham some stick for switching sides,” McElhenney admitted, jokingly referencing the former England captain’s presence in opposing colours. “He’d cheered for us at Wembley, then went over to see Tom [Brady] at Birmingham, but truth be told, we really had a good time.”
The events took place during a fiercely contested encounter at St Andrew’s which saw Wrexham ultimately fall to a 3-1 defeat. Despite the scoreline and boisterous Birmingham partisans, McElhenney found positives in the experience. “The matchday build-up was full of banter. I spent time with Tom Brady and Tom Wagner [Birmingham’s hedge fund co-owner], both great company,” he said. “At half-time we were still level at 1-1 and spirits were high. Unfortunately, the second half was tough for us, but that’s football.”
Reflecting on his experience among rival fans, McElhenney commented on the good-natured nature of the sport’s traditional terraces atmosphere. “I was right there in the stands,” he recalled. “There was some booing and a few heckles from the crowd, but I think, on the whole, people looked out for my safety. It was a memorable night primarily because of the great conversations I had with the Birmingham ownership group and their vision for the club.”
By the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, both Wrexham and Birmingham would have much to celebrate, albeit for different reasons. Birmingham City clinched the League One title with a remarkable tally of 111 points, underlining their dominance in the third tier. Wrexham, in their turn, completed a triumphant campaign of their own, securing a coveted promotion to the Championship—an extraordinary leap that highlights the continued impact of McElhenney and Reynolds’ stewardship.
Wrexham’s meteoric rise has been mirrored by the global following fuelled by the success of the documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham.” The show has introduced the North Wales club to new audiences around the world, turning the team into one of the fastest-growing brands in football and drawing thousands of new fans from far outside the club’s traditional heartland.
Despite their impressive achievements, McElhenney admitted that the clash with Birmingham laid bare the significant gap between his squad and the title winners. “The difference between us and Birmingham was huge, and that became apparent early on,” he reflected. “We’d started well and put together a strong squad, but dominating a side like Birmingham, with their resources and quality, was always going to be a steep challenge.”
That said, the willingness of all parties—including figures like Brady, Wagner, and Beckham—to throw their support behind English football’s lower leagues is being seen as a positive shift in the sport, drawing fresh investment and attention to clubs with historic roots and passionate communities.
As the dust settles on another eventful season for Wrexham, fans can look forward not only to Championship football but also to further colourful chapters in the club’s ongoing Hollywood story—complete with celebrity cameos and the sort of good-natured jibes that continue to endear McElhenney and Reynolds to supporters both old and new.