James McClean writes letter explaining why he refuses to wear a poppy to commemorate Remembrance Sunday

JAMES McClean is a footballer. Usually, that’s all. But at the moment, he is the focal point of a debate that strikes very close to home for a lot of people.

This man is at the centre of an uproar

IRISH footballer James McClean has placed himself at the centre of an uproar by choosing not to wear a poppy-embroidered jersey.

This weekend’s round of fixtures in England has seen clubs up and down the country wearing poppies on their jerseys to commemorate Remembrance Sunday on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

However, Londonderry-born Republic of Ireland international McClean made a personal decision not to sport a poppy during Wigan’s Championship game against Bolton, sparking a varied and impassioned response from fans.

Absolutely despise James McClean..

— Christopher liddle (@chrisliddle12) November 8, 2014

James McClean can do whatever he wants. He has a conscience and lives in a free society to make his own mind up about wearing a poppy

— Shilly (@shilly783) November 8, 2014

I'm glad James McClean got boo'd, I hope it happens at every game for the rest of his career.

— Jack Meoff (@Scriv007) November 8, 2014

It is appalling the way footballer James McClean is being treated by many people, his opinion and decision should be accepted and respected

— Pat Ramsey (@Patramseymla) November 8, 2014

It is not the first time McClean has opted against wearing the poppy. In 2012, police opened an investigation into allegations McClean had been the target of death threats after snubbing the poppy shirt while playing for Sunderland at Everton.

And in a bid to avoid more potential problems for McClean, Wigan’s official website published a letter from the player addressed to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan in which the winger, who was named among the substitutes, clarified his stance.

James McClean pictured during the game against Bolton.

In that letter, McClean said: “I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars — many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those.

“I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War One and Two I would wear one; I want to make that 100 per cent 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.

“Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history — even if, like me, you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.

“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.”