GIVEN THE time of year, it’s probably inevitable that James McClean is in the news again. For those who don’t know, McClean is the current captain of Wrexham AFC who play in the English Football League One, (also known as Sky Bet League One).

What marks McClean out – and what gets him in the news – is that he’s one of the very few players who refuse to wear any football shirt that features the remembrance poppy around this time of year.  For this, he gets plenty of flack.

McClean has stated that he’s not opposed to people wearing the poppy.  Indeed, he’s also noted that he’d wear one himself if it were restricted to only honouring soldiers who died in the two World Wars.  (If this was the case, he has noted that he would wear the poppy ‘every day of the year.’)

However, having been brought up in the pro-Irish Republican Creggan estate in Londonderry (commonly known as Derry), he finds it difficult to display a poppy.

This is because – according to the Royal British Legion – ‘we remember those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts; from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day, as well as all those who have served and their families.’

This potentially could relate to those members of the Parachute Regiment who shot & killed 13 men on Bloody Sunday (with another dying four months after the event on 30th January 1972).  Of these fatalities, six came from the Creggan.

Given the context it’s probably understandable – from McClean’s point of view – why he would find it somewhat uncomfortable wearing a poppy.  (He’s also reiterated that his position is one of peace & isn’t part of any wider political, religious or anti-British campaign.)

We noted earlier that he gets plenty of flack for his position.  However, one organisation that would support his stance is the RBL itself.  They oppose compelling people to wear the poppy.

Our position is similar.  We wholeheartedly support the concept of civil and religious liberties for all.  This means the right to hold & voice opinions that are considered controversial, unconventional or unpopular.  In the context of this article, we hold view that people have the absolute right to wear – or not wear – the poppy.