James McClean has explained his reasons for not wearing a poppy numerous times over the years, but still receives abuse every year in the build-up to Remembrance Sunday
James McClean has revealed the agony his family go through as he receives death threats over his refusal to wear a remembrance poppy. The Derry native has explained his reasoning for not wearing the artificial flower repeatedly throughout the years, yet continues to face harassment annually in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday for his stance.
McClean describes the controversy surrounding his poppy decision as “the pain in my arse”. The poppy is worn across the UK to honour those who perished in both world wars and other military conflicts, including those in Ireland.
“I’ve over 100 caps for my country, I’ve played in two major championships, but yet I’m known as someone who doesn’t wear a poppy rather than what I’ve achieved in my career,” McClean told Lucy Kennedy in the upcoming episode of Living with Lucy on Ireland’s Virgin Media TV channel.
The Wrexham winger remembers how his position first became public when he informed the Sunderland kitman he wouldn’t be wearing a poppy before a fixture when he was just 23 years old, reports the Irish Mirror.
The 36-year-old detailed how his manager at the time Martin O’Neill, a fellow Derry man and Catholic, comprehended his decision but a statement released by Sunderland “destroyed” him.
He said: “What killed me was Sunderland put out a statement before the game, basically saying this is James’ choice. If they didn’t highlight it, it wouldn’t have been as big a deal. Putting that statement out caused havoc.
“At that age, I was 23, so I thought ‘the club is looking after me’. You just assume the club is looking after one of their players. They’re telling me not to say nothing, like it will blow over. I’m thinking ‘I believe you, it will’.
“It didn’t. It went insane. I was getting death threats, people were saying I should be shot. I was getting bullets in the post, bullets sent to the club.
“That night I met up with Ireland, the club had received threats that basically I was going to be shot. The game was on TV, I was going to be shot, this and that.
“Erin’s back up in Newcastle, she’s panicking, she’s s***ing herself. They had to put security outside my hotel room door the whole night.
“Then obviously we’re playing the game, Erin’s watching the game, she’s panicking, she’s thinking ‘he’s going to be shot on TV’. Thankfully nothing happened or nothing ever has happened.”
McClean revealed his stance on not wearing a poppy has impacted his wife Erin and mother Shauna far more than it ever affected him personally, explaining that he remains proud to have remained authentic to his beliefs.
“Over the years, it’s affected Erin and my ma especially a lot more than it ever has me,” he added. “I’m just like ‘Ah, it is what it is’. I could easily have said ‘I’ll wear a poppy and sell myself out and be known for my football’ or I’ll not wear a poppy and be known as that’, but I’ve stayed true to myself.”
The episode of Living with Lucy featuring James McClean airs on Virgin Media 1 on Sunday, October 19th at 9pm.
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