I watch Wrexham home and away, but snuck behind enemy lines to check out the Blues - this is what I learned

With a potential Wembley edition of the Hollywood Derby on the horizon as Wrexham and Birmingham were kept apart in the Vertu Trophy semi final draw, one Red Dragons fan reveals what he thought from a day undercover as a Blues fan in the FA Cup clash with Newcastle United.

Blues fans are loud, proud and utterly intimidating

I like to think the atmosphere at the Stok Cae Ras is second to none. When Wrexham is the Name starts echoing around the oldest international football stadium in the world, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But being amongst 27,000 Brum fans took things to a whole new level.

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My smartwatch told me the noise in the opening minutes of the FA Cup tie with Newcastle hit 120 decibels - only slightly less deafening than a military jet taking off according to acoustic experts. Nothing quite prepared me for hearing Keep Right On up close and personal.

Visiting players get a ‘warm’ welcome

While on the theme of the Bluenoses we have to touch upon how intimidating playing at St Andrews must be for opposition players. Deafening cries of WHO ring out as their names are read out pre match - or as subs come on and off the field - but if you are brave enough to dare taking a corner in front of the Tilton Road end you’ll get pelted with drinks bottles, plastic cups and anything else they can get their hands on as well as volleys of abuse. How could it not get inside your head?

Ollie Rathbone is great, but Tomoki Iwata is the best player in League One

Us Reds fans have a new hero in midfield terrier Ollie Rathbone. Our once-record signing from Rotherham has become a cult hero in North Wales with his tough tackling, endless energy and long range goals.

But Tomoki Iwata showed the levels he has that has enabled Blues to build up a seven point lead at the top of the table. The former Celtic man and Japan international was a calming presence spraying the ball across the park - and then blasted one of the greatest goals I have ever seen live just before half time.

Blues have a touch of Hollywood glamour, but it’s not a patch on the Cae Ras

Toms Brady and Wagner have breathed new life into a sleeping giant in the West Midlands and a pre match light show, a live performance from local rapper Jaykae and some on pitch fireworks were lapped up by the home crowd.

But come on, it’s no match for Deadpool himself Ryan Reynolds is it? Throw in co-owner Rob McElhenney and visiting friends including Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, Billie Joe Armstrong and Eva Longoria and the Red Dragons have the glamour stakes wrapped up.

St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park is bloody hard to get to

New Street feels miles away, all the car parks nearby are booked out weeks in advance and Uber drivers won’t go within half a mile of the ground on match day.

No matter what way you look at it, St Andrew’s is a pain to get to unless you want to get your 10,000 steps in.

Meanwhile, Wrexham’s humble home is adjacent to the city’s railway station, you can park for a tenner 20 paces from the Wrexham Lager stand and the dual carriageway taking you south to the Midlands or north to Manchester lies just the other side of the famous Tech End.

A third Hollywood Derby is a mouthwatering prospect

No matter what way you look at it, a Vertu Trophy final at Wembley between the two clubs will have the eyes of the world on it. Blues comfortably swept aside their North Wales rivals 3-1 back in September; but Wrexham were easily the better side in the reverse fixture, before having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

A sell out crowd of almost 90,000 would be an almost certainty for the occasion - and with Blues having all but wrapped up promotion by then, will go in as short priced favourites.

But you can never write off a Hollywood ending for Wrexham, with new strikeforce Sam Smith and former England international Jay Rodriguez added to their ranks.

It's a potential occasion that already gives me butterflies. But first, the small matter of both clubs seeing off semi final opponents Peterborough and Bradford.