Stoke support McClean’s poppy stance
JAMES McCLEAN is braced for flak for his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on his shirt for Stoke City’s next two Championship games. The Irish left-winger took a similar stance around Armistice Day on November 11 at his previous English clubs, Sunderland, Wigan and West Brom. McClean is a native of Derry where British soldiers shot dead 14 unarmed civilians on ‘Bloody Sunday’ in January 1972. Even so, the 29-year-old accepts his poppy stance will not be met with broad acceptance. ‘I know many people won’t agree with my decision or even attempt to gain an understanding of why I don’t wear a poppy,’ said the Irish winger yesterday. ‘I accept that but I would ask people to be respectful of the choice I have made, just as I’m respectful of people who do choose to wear a poppy.’ McClean yesterday issued a statement with the support of his employers, Stoke City, who acknowledge ‘wearing the poppy means different things to different individuals’ and recognise McClean’s right ‘to follow his own convictions.’ Stoke play Middlesbrough at home on Saturday and are away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday week. Four year ago, McClean wrote an open letter to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan explaining the background to his views on poppy symbolism. Despite the frankness, he was still jeered at games. Apart from McClean, all footballers in Britain will wear a poppy between now and Armistice Day on Sunday week. So too will managers and TV presenters. Martin O’Neill, the Ireland manager and a native of Derry, has traditionally worn a poppy on the touchline at this time of year.