'No compromise' - Wrexham's McClean explains poppy stance

James McClean signed a new two-year contract with Wrexham in August

Wrexham captain James McClean says he will not compromise his convictions after explaining why he opts not to wear a poppy.

The former Republic of Ireland international stood away from team-mates during the minute’s silence for Remembrance Day held prior to Wrexham’s League One fixture with Mansfield on Saturday.

Neither did the 35-year-old wear the black armband featuring a poppy that the rest of Phil Parkinson’s side sported.

It is a stance McClean has made for more than a decade playing in the Premier League and EFL, one that has previously seen him the subject of abuse from supporters and on social media.

Why do clubs wear poppies?

The British tradition of wearing poppies to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I was begun by the Royal British Legion (RBL) in 1921 and has continued ever since, expanding as part of remembrance for all conflicts.

Leicester City are thought to have been the first club to wear poppies on their shirts in 2003, with the items raffled to raise money

It then became a widespread practice, with clubs across British football beginning the tradition of displaying poppies on their kits from around 2010.

The Premier League say since 2012 shirt auctions have raised £4.7m for the RBL charity.

Who is James McClean?

As well as a pre-match silence, the ball for Saturday's game was delivered by Royal Marines

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, McClean is an Irish midfielder who played for hometown club Derry City before moving to Premier League Sunderland in 2011.

He went on to play for Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City before a second spell at Wigan.

He signed for Wrexham in August 2023, helping the club to promotion from League Two and taking over the captaincy this season.

He has made more than 600 senior appearances while also winning 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland before retiring from international football in 2023.

What does McClean say?

McClean has previously outlined his reasons for choosing not to wear a poppy having first done so at Sunderland in 2012.

But, following this weekend’s fixtures, McClean posted on Instagram that he wanted to give "colleagues, team-mates past and present, and fans who have supported me" a full understanding out of respect.

He wrote: "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 stance stems from Bloody Sunday, where British soldiers opened fire on civil rights protestors in Derry in January 1972. Fourteen people were killed.

"That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy," added McClean, who has a tattoo of the ‘Free Derry’ landmark in the city’s Bogside area on his left thigh.

"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."

What has happened previously?

McClean has regularly been criticised and the subject of abuse for his stance, first at Sunderland where he accused the club of not being allowed to explain his decision.

He has previously spoken of receiving death threats over the issue.

There have been a number of investigations into fan behaviour angered by McClean’s choice, while Stoke manager Gary Rowett said in 2018 he had seen abusive packages sent to the Irish player at the club’s training ground.

The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) previously called the abuse unacceptable and said the decision to wear a poppy remained an individual’s choice.

McClean has also faced censure from the Football Association (FA) for past social media posts made in response to online abuse and criticism.

In 2020, McClean was fined two weeks' wages by another of his former clubs, Stoke City, for an inappropriate Instagram post in which he was pictured wearing a balaclava in front of two children, with the caption "Today's school lesson - History" along with a laughing emoji.

He later apologised and agreed to delete his Instagram account.

McClean has been critical of the FA and English Football League for a lack of action over the sectarian abuse aimed at him.

In 2023, Blackpool were fined £35,000 when McClean was subjected to sectarian abuse by fans during a game against Wigan.

What else has McClean said?

On his Instagram post, McClean denied he "hated" England in response to an accusation often levied at him by some fans, adding: "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.

"One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions."