Wrexham’s James McClean makes on-pitch Remembrance Day protest

James McClean, the current captain of resurgent side Wrexham, has come under fire for his stance on an important UK occasion.

Wrexham defender James McClean has courted controversy once more after refusing to stand with teammates for the Remembrance Day silence.

The Wrexham skipper was born in Derry, Northern Ireland before switching allegiances to represent Ireland in his international career.

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The 35-year-old has regularly turned down the opportunity to wear a poppy or observe Remembrance Day, which has honoured members of the armed forces that have died on duty since the end of World War I.

While his teammates linked arms for a minute’s silence at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground for a League One clash with Mansfield Town on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), McClean stood about a metre to the side with his arms by his side.

James McClean has taken his usual stance on Remembrance Day. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

After the moment of silence, a section of Wrexham fans were reportedly heard chanting he “hates the f**king King”, in a reference to the British monarchy.

McClean moved to England in 2011 and has had a decorated career with a number of clubs, including Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

He has previously stated that if the poppy was only worn as a tribute to those that died in the first and second World Wars, he would happily oblige.

But he takes exception due to the British Army’s role in Northern Ireland conflicts, particularly the infamous Bloody Sunday event in 1972.

Six of the people killed that day were from Derry’s Creggan estate, where McClean grew up.

Back in April, after Wrexham were promoted to League One, McClean joined the club’s supporters in singing the “hates the King” chant.

James McClean lines up away from teammates. Photo: Supplied

After the 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green, McClean responded to a newspaper report of the incident, writing: “Is this correct? Absolutely and I also sang at the top of my lungs.

“Do I make any apologies for doing so? Absolutely not.”

The issue with McClean has existed throughout his time in English football and he has come in for fierce criticism from a number of circles, coupled with some support over his stated beliefs.

Fans took to X to vent their feelings, with one writing: “Just attention seeking. Wear a poppy or don’t wear a poppy it’s his choice but not standing with his teammates is odd.”

Another offered: “Still collecting the English pound I see the massive hypocrite.”

A third wrote angrily: “Someone’s gonna snap his ACL one day and I can’t wait.”

A fourth stated: “Massive respect for James McClean … a man who has the courage of his convictions and who refuses to be bullied by the ‘poppy police’.”

Ten years ago, McClean wrote an open letter to then-Wigan chairman Dave Whelan to explain his refusal to wear the poppy on his shirt.

It read in part: “I wanted to write to you before talking about this face-to-face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton.

“I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars — many I know were Irish-born.

McClean is a famously combative player on the field. (Photo: Ian Kington/AFP)

Wrexham has been transformed under celebrity owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. (Photo Matthew Ashton AMA/Getty Images)

“I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one. I want to make that 100% clear. You must understand this.

“But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me.”

“For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different.

“Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially – as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.

“It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.

“I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong.”

McClean has been part of the revolution for Wrexham under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, which has taken the Welsh club from non-league football to League One.

Originally published as Wrexham’s James McClean makes on-pitch Remembrance Day protest