James McClean writes letter to West Brom fans explaining his poppy stance

This is no surprise.

James McClean wrote a letter in West Brom's matchday programme last Saturday confirming he won't be wearing the remembrance day poppy next month, and explaining his reasons for doing so. "We are coming up to Remembrance Day and I won’t wear a poppy on my shirt," McClean's letter reads. "People say I am being disrespectful but don’t ask why I choose not to wear it."

"If the poppy was simply about World War One and Two victims alone, I'd wear it without a problem." "I would wear it everyday of the year if that was the thing but it doesn't, it stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in. Because of the history where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that."

The Derry winger took a similar measure last year, when he was playing for Wigan Athletic, and issued an open letter to then Wigan chairman Dave Whelan explaining his stance. The 26 year old said that wearing the poppy, worn to commemorate those who died in wars involving the British empire, which includes victims of conflicts post-1945 and the Troubles, would be insulting to the people of Derry. McClean also refused to wear the poppy while playing for Sunderland. In the programme for Saturday's 1-0 win over Sunderland, McClean also said that his "attitude is to live and let live."

"I don't think we should have any ideas forced on us just as I don't want to force my ideas on anyone else. The Albion fans have been great to me and I just want to put it out in black and white why I do what I do and give my side of the story. If I were to sing the British national anthem, then that would be disrespectful to the place I come from. A lot of people are still hurting there and so I can’t pretend that that didn't happen."

After the game, McClean's celebrations in front of the away fans caused anger among Sunderland players Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole, who rushed to confront him and something of a melee insued. A section of the Sunderland fans were also recorded chanting an anti-IRA song following the game, and had jeered McClean throughout the game at the Hawthorns.