James McClean

Poppy day ceased to represent what it should represent, not so coincidentally, a few years ago when it was highjacked by the government and media and turned into emotional, patriotic symbolism to brainwash the public into believing that sending young men to be maimed and killed for no good reason is somehow justified. Help for Heroes is another example of this.

James McClean was exercising his right tonight to free thought and expression by choosing not to wear a poppy on his shirt. That would be the same rights those men for which the poppy is supposed to represent fought and died to preserve.

Nobody from the UFV gave anything at the Somme.

UFV was only formed in the mid-1960s, fifty years after the start of the Battle of The Somme.

Nobody from the UFV gave anything at the Somme.

UFV was only formed in the mid-1960s, fifty years after the start of the Battle of The Somme.[/quote]

You’re wrong there, Jonny. They led the charge. Two up front and all, I believe

He certainly is allowed an opinion and like it or loathe it James deserves respect for sticking to his believes and principals and especially so with the lad being in the goldfish bowl of football and with the subject being of such an emotive issue.
Just hope he can show the same guts(which I am sure he can)in the relegation dogfight.

That indicates that last year’s absence due to a “Dead Leg” was complete hoop. The lad needs a history lesson on what the poppy really represents. Hopefully Uncle Dave has taken him to the Tower of London on the way back from Brighton.[/quote]

That indicates your an prick anyhoo let james explain

Dear Mr Whelan

I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton.

I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars – many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those.

I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one.

I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this.

But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me.

For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.

Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially – as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII.

It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.

I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent.

I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man you should stand up for what you believe in.

I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons.

As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation.

Yours sincerely,

James McClean

oh ffs

In memory of those for which Poppy Day was inaugurated.

To take the positives out of that scenario, Rosler would then have two less players to think about when selecting his starting 11.