Wrexham captain James McClean has taken a stand by wearing a poppy during the club’s Remembrance weekend fixture against Mansfield Town, The Daily Star can confirm. McClean is skippering at the Racecourse but has previously spoken out about his reluctance to wear the symbol. Star man Andy Gilpin has been giving live updates on the controversial events.
As the players lined the edges of the centre circle, McClean could be seen standing away from his fellow players, most of whom wore black armbands bar him. Irishman McClean has previously spoken out about his reasoning for not wearing the symbol, synonymous with British and commonwealth servicepeople who gave their lives in combat.
The British army was stationed and clashed with the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland during the troubles.
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Derry-born and raised McClean was born on Creggan estate, where some of the 14 people killed in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre were from.
The spectacle of the debate is considerable, with McClean leading out his side on the weekend where players in most fixtures up and down the football league structure will wear poppies on their kits. Meanwhile, defender Tom O’Connor was spotted not wearing one either, nor was Ryan Barnett.
According to our man on the ground Andy, the “Ball has been delivered by Royal Marines. And the crew of HMS Dragon in attendance at the match”.
Speaking previously with the Belfast Telegraph, McClean said: “Yeah, look, maybe I was a bit naive in thinking you know, with me being the one that took the stand first, it’ll pave the way for young Irish lads coming through and it doesn’t seem to be the case.
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“I speak to a lot of people and I’ve had players say that they don’t believe in wearing the poppy and they wouldn’t wear it, but they just don’t want to the hassle.
Social media has erupted in a storm over McClean’s latest stand.
“Like the ticking of the clock, the turning of the seasons, the gammons going on about James McClean,” one added.
“NO POLITICS AT THE FOOTBALL (Unless you have a Ukraine flag, a poppy or want to slag off James McClean)”.
Another wrote: “James McClean – The Annual Poppy Rejection. “Every year, James McClean reminds us he’s Irish by refusing to wear the poppy. It’s become a seasonal event, like Christmas or tax day…”