James McClean says wearing the poppy “was never going to happen”

James McClean told the Irish Examiner that he would never wear a poppy, explaining that the decision has made him “a bit of a recluse” after years of criticism.

Career and personal background

The 37‑year‑old forward, born in Derry in 1989, is the fifth‑most‑capped Republic of Ireland player with 103 appearances and has featured in 150 Premier League games over five seasons, totalling around 800 professional matches.

McClean spent 14 years in English football before returning to Derry City, where he now finds himself at odds with the club. He described himself as “pretty boring” off the pitch, spending his days training, going home and “switching off”.

In his autobiography, The Walls, McClean reflects on growing up in the Creggan estate, the site of the 1972 Bloody Sunday killings, and the impact of the Saville Report and the 2010 apology from then‑British prime minister David Cameron.

He recounted learning to make petrol bombs as a child and noted that his three daughters and 11‑year‑old son now live in a “different era”. McClean said he wants them “to be proud to be Irish”.

McClean’s refusal to wear the poppy on Remembrance Sunday, which he says represents the British army that occupied Derry, sparked a dispute with Sunderland in November 2012 and has continued to affect his public image.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Jose Parra / Pexels.