Stoke City’s Republic of Ireland international James McClean will again not wear a Remembrance Day poppy on his shirt this year.
The 29-year-old did the same at his previous clubs – Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion.
McClean is from Londonderry and is known for his Irish Republican values, he initially played for Northern Ireland but opted to play for the Republic of Ireland instead.
According to his Wikipedia page:
McClean’s objection derives from his affinity with the people of Derry, and the role of the British Army in The Troubles; he grew up on the Creggan estate, where six of the people killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972 also came from.
He has said he would wear the poppy if it was restricted to honouring only soldiers who died in the World Wars, many of whom were Irish, and he has insisted his position is one of peace, and not any kind of wider political, religious or anti-British point. The Legion itself does not believe in compelling people to wear the poppy, seeing such a stance as going against everything the poppy symbolises.
For his stance, McClean has been booed by supporters of opposition clubs as well as some of his own club’s supporters.After the first refusal, McClean also received sectarian abuse and loyalist threats, including death threats.
He has received support from various players and managers who support his decision as a personal issue of conscience.The first instance occurred on 10 November 2012, with McClean wearing a plain Sunderland shirt during their match against Everton.McClean donated this plain shirt, signed, to a charity auction in aid of a Dublin-based children’s charity.
The player said he knew many people would not agree with his decision, but asked for it to be respected.
A statement from Stoke City Football club said:
As a club we will be supporting the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal by wearing the poppy on our home shirt in the fixture against Middlesbrough on 3 November and on our away shirt in the fixture against Nottingham Forest on 10 November.
The club is proud of its close connections with the armed forces and have also invited members of the armed forces to join our remembrance at the Middlesbrough fixture.
However, we recognise that the poppy means different things to different individuals and communities and (like the Royal British Legion) do not believe that anybody should be forced or even pressured to wear the poppy against their free will.
James has informed us that he will not be wearing a Remembrance Day poppy in our next two games. We respect his decision and his right to follow his own convictions.”
Unity News Opinion- As usual the footballer James McClean is showing his usual bitter Republican loyalties and is a disgrace. However it is the actions of Stoke City in allowing this that shows what a pathetic and spineless institution they are. Other premiership teams and players proudly wear the Poppy and so should he!
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