James McClean explains why he refused to put on poppy and ‘by no means will’ on Remembrance Sunday

Wrexham captain James McClean has explained his decision not to wear a poppy during the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

McClean observed the minute’s silence separately from his team-mates before their victory over Mansfield Town on Saturday and distinctly without the symbolic poppy on his jersey. His decision sparked debate online and made media headlines.

The 35-year-old former Republic of Ireland player, originally from Derry’s Creggan estate – the site of the tragic events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 , has steadfastly refused to follow remembrance practices involving the poppy since his move to England with Sunderland in 2012.

Explaining his long-maintained position via a post on Instagram, McClean stated: “I have addressed this matter many times, not that I should have to, but explaining it now on social media out of respect for work colleagues, team mates past and present, fans who have supported me (Wigan, Wrexham especially) for them to have a full understanding.”

The Mirror reported how he detailed his interpretation of the poppy, saying: “The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others. Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy try be forced upon me.

“The poppy which originally stood for World War 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland.

“That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy’s sole purpose was to honour world war 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but that’s not the case.”

The winger added: “I respect those who do as I am fully aware we have different beliefs and upbringings, I would never force my beliefs on others, I’m not naive or stupid enough to expect the matter to be reciprocated, especially as the poppy is forced now on everyone in the UK and god forbid someone doesn’t wear it, the abuse they have to endure. The irony of all of this is that the poppy originally stood to honour those who fought for the right of freedom in both world wars.

“Some people, no matter what, will not educate themselves or want to educate themselves, so to those who throw abuse about, (matters they know nothing about) with insults like ‘hates our country’ well I don’t, some of my best relationships I’ve made through the years are with people born and raised in England and have completely different beliefs to me.”

“‘Happy to work and live in the uk but take the king’s shilling, send him back to his home town to work then’. Well, the sad matter of fact is if I did I would still [be] getting paid in the ‘king’s shillings’ unfortunately which part of the whole problem to begin with. One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions.

McClean’s wife Erin chimed in on Twitter: “I don’t know about the rest of you… but this is just boring now. 12 years on you’d think it’d be old news.”