Wrexham’s James McClean Clarifies Decision Not to Wear Poppy, Citing ‘No Compromise’ on Convictions

Wrexham captain James McClean, who signed a new two-year contract with the club in August, has stated he will not alter his deeply held beliefs, as he clarified his reasons for choosing not to wear a poppy. The former Republic of Ireland international separated himself from his team-mates during the minute of silence observed for Remembrance Day, which took place before Wrexham’s League One match against Mansfield on Saturday. Furthermore, the 35-year-old did not wear the black armband adorned with a poppy, unlike the other members of Phil Parkinson’s team. This position has been maintained by McClean for over ten years throughout his career in the Premier League and EFL, a period during which he has faced harassment from fans and on social media platforms. The British custom of wearing poppies, initiated by the Royal British Legion (RBL) in 1921 to honor those who perished in World War I, has persisted continuously, evolving to encompass remembrance for all conflicts. Leicester City is believed to have been the inaugural club to feature poppies on their shirts in 2003, with these items subsequently raffled for fundraising. This then developed into a common practice, as British football clubs generally started incorporating poppies onto their kits from approximately 2010. According to the Premier League, shirt auctions have generated £4.7 million for the RBL charity since 2012. In addition to the pre-match silence, Royal Marines were responsible for delivering the match ball for Saturday’s fixture. McClean, an Irish midfielder born and raised in Northern Ireland, played for his hometown club Derry City prior to his transfer to Premier League side Sunderland in 2011. His career subsequently included stints with Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City, followed by a second period at Wigan. He joined Wrexham in August 2023, contributing to the club’s promotion from League Two and assuming the role of captain this season. McClean has accumulated over 600 senior appearances and earned 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland before his retirement from international football in 2023. McClean has previously articulated his rationale for opting against wearing a poppy, a practice he initiated at Sunderland in 2012. However, after the matches this weekend, McClean used Instagram to communicate his desire to provide “colleagues, team-mates past and present, and fans who have supported me” with a complete understanding, citing respect as his motivation. He stated: “The poppy represents for me an entire different meaning to what it does for others, am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me tho (sic), is having the poppy try be forced upon me.” McClean’s position originates from Bloody Sunday, an event in January 1972 in Derry where British soldiers fired upon civil rights protestors, resulting in the deaths of fourteen individuals. “That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy,” McClean further explained, noting that he bears a tattoo of the ‘Free Derry’ landmark located in the city’s Bogside area on his left thigh. He continued: “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.” McClean has consistently faced criticism and been subjected to abuse due to his stance, beginning at Sunderland, where he claimed the club prevented him from clarifying his decision. He has previously disclosed receiving death threats concerning this matter. Several investigations have been conducted into fan conduct provoked by McClean’s decision, and in 2018, then-Stoke manager Gary Rowett reported witnessing abusive packages being sent to the Irish player at the club’s training facility. The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) previously labeled the abuse as unacceptable and affirmed that the choice to wear a poppy is an individual’s prerogative. Additionally, McClean has received disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA) for previous social media posts made in reaction to online harassment and critiques. In 2020, Stoke City, another of his former clubs, imposed a fine equivalent to two weeks’ wages on McClean for an unsuitable Instagram post. The post featured him wearing a balaclava in front of two children, accompanied by the caption “Today’s school lesson – History” and a laughing emoji. He subsequently issued an apology and consented to deactivate his Instagram account. McClean has expressed criticism towards the FA and the English Football League regarding their perceived inaction concerning the sectarian abuse directed at him. In 2023, Blackpool received a £35,000 fine after McClean was targeted with sectarian abuse by supporters during a match against Wigan. In his Instagram post, McClean refuted the accusation, frequently made by some fans, that he “hated” England, stating further: “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.” He concluded: “One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions.”