James McClean shares reason why he refused to stand with Wrexham teammates for Remembrance Day silence

He took to Instagram to explain the decision

Each year the footballing calendar in the United Kingdom honours soldiers lost in combat down the years from World War One up to the present day.

Football matches observe a moment's silence while many will wear a poppy, the symbol of Remembrance Day which is observed on the 11 November each year and the date the First World War ended.

However, for many, Remembrance Day can be difficult and the poppy is not always seen as a symbol people want to be associated with due to British military history.

This is the case for former Ireland international footballer James McClean who refused to stand with his Wrexham teammates for the Remembrance day silence yesterday, ahead of their match with Mansfield Town.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday morning (11 November), the 35-year-old explained his decision.

He wrote: "I have addressed this matter many times, not that I should have to, but explaining it now on social media out of respect for work colleagues, team mates past and present, fans who have supported me (Wigan, Wrexham esp [especially]) for them to have a full understanding.

"The poppy represents for me an entire different meaning to what it does for others, am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy try be forced upon me.

"The poppy which originally stood for world war 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland.

"That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy’s sole purpose was to honour world war 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but that's not the case.

"I respect those who do, as I am fully aware we have different beliefs and upbringings, I would never force my beliefs on others. I’m not naive or stupid enough to expect the matter to be reciprocated, especially as the poppy is forced now on everyone in the UK and god forbid someone doesn’t wear it, the abuse they have to endure.

"The irony of all of this is that the poppy originally stood to honour those who fought for the right of freedom in both world wars.

"Some people no matter what will not educate themselves or want to educate themselves, so to those who throw abuse about, (matters they know nothing about) with insults like
'hates our country' well I don’t, some of my best relationships I’ve made through the years are with people born and raised in England and have completely different beliefs to me.

“'Happy to work and live in the UK but take the kings shilling, send him back to his home town to work then' well the sad matter of fact is if I did I would still getting paid in the 'kings shillings' unfortunately which part of the whole problem to begin with.

"One thing I never have and never will do, is bend the knee to compromise my convictions."

McClean has refrained from wearing the poppy for over a decade and has insisted his position is one of peace and not of anti-British sentiment.

However, the player has often received abuse, despite the Royal British Legion opposing forcing people to wear the poppy as it goes against what it stands for.

The player previously donated an unadorned shirt, signed, to a charity auction in aid of a Dublin-based children's charity.