JAMES MCCLEAN HAS opened up about death threats over his decision to declare for the Republic of Ireland, as well as vile abuse which forced him to leave Sunderland in 2013.
The Derry native faced criticism in the past as he chose not to represent Northern Ireland at international level after lining out for underage teams.
The 28-year-old has also been heavily criticised for refusing to wear a remembrance poppy on his jersey after making the move to England’s club scene.
Speaking to BBC One’s Football Focus, the West Brom winger insisted that he had never intended to play for Northern Ireland at senior level, and was sent death threats following both his decision to declare for the Republic and refusal to wear a poppy.
“I’ve had a lot of death threats,”he said. “It started when I declared for the Republic. People see me as anti-British. I want to go on record as saying it — I’ve never been anti-British.
“There’s certain things I don’t agree with, my beliefs and I’ve made that very clear in the past. But I take people at face value, I treat people how they treat me.”
“I was an Irish boy growing up, I supported Ireland. I played with Northern Ireland for the youth system. I’ve openly admitted I took advantage of that system to better myself.
I’ve never had any ambitions to play for Northern Ireland. Certain aspects make me uncomfortable, so why should I feel uncomfortable playing football?
“I’ve never had any hatred towards Northern Ireland or their fans or their football team. There’s a lot of Northern Ireland internationals that I’ve played with, who I get on very well with.
“But I was getting death threats for declaring for my country. Why should I again turn away after getting abuse? You [certain Northern Ireland fans] abused me, I don’t like you, simple as that. Why should I? I don’t think I should have to change to suit certain people.”
He spoke about his move from Derry City overseas, and how the press have slammed him in the past.
“That’s where a lot of the negative press came from. Back in Derry, I was being me. I could tweet and do what I wanted and no one cared. All of a sudden [when I came over to England], the slightest wee thing I wrote was in the papers.
“I haven’t changed, I’m still the same person. I wouldn’t want to change, that’s not me. If I did change I would be a fraud.
“When people become footballers, they go off a script which is boring and isn’t them. I’m me, if you like it, you like it. If you don’t, you don’t.
“There’s been a lot of petty stuff, which I thought was blown out of proportion. I was an Irish lad growing up, 95 per cent of the population in Ireland probably listen to the Wolfe Tones. So I wrote on Twitter that I was listening to the Wolfe Tones, which I’v been listening to since I was no age. Then, all of a sudden, it’s in the papers that I’m pro-IRA.
The former Wigan and Sunderland player spoke at length about his move away from the Stadium of Light and how before a certain point, all was going well. “Then came the whole poppy gate and it very quickly turned,” he recalls.
“There’s a funny story about one of the last home games of season for Sunderland. Like I normally do, I took my jersey home because you never know who needs one or asks for one.
“I gave it to a kid outside the stadium. His father took it off him and threw it back at me.
“Then, on the way home, we pulled up at traffic lights. Another car pulled up alongside us, rolled down the window, spat out the window and just drove off.
“My missus was in the car and she was pregnant at the time and I was thinking ‘I’m about to bring a baby into the world, I don’t need all this hassle’.
“So I went and seen Paolo [Di Canio] the next day. I said ‘look I think it’s time that I move on.’”
McClean paid an emotional tribute in the interview to his former teammate and friend Ryan McBride, who passed away in March, and he also spoke about his act of kindness for the Oxford Bulls.
The Derry native concluded that he’s happy at West Brom and how things are going at the minute:
“I want to be the best I can be, and West Brom feel the same — they want to be the best they can be.”
You can watch the full interview here:
https://vid.me/u93v
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Proud Irish man. More people should be like him.
@Eoin Mulhern: why?
@PScald: Because he is honest and does not care what other people think. Also the amount he give to charity and how he helps his local community.
@Eoin Mulhern: Absolutely spot on.
@Terrymar: multi millionaire give it over
@Eoin Mulhern: Neil Lennon played with NI!?
@Ricky Galvin: Ricky Neill Lennon has come out and said if he had to choose again he would pick the Republic. He had no issues playing for the North until he signed for Celtic..
@Ricky Galvin: He sure did, then got a death threat in 2002 which forced him to call time on his international career.
@Ricky Galvin: A death threat from Loyalists that is.
Saw this on football focus this morning. Great to hear his own views directly as all we ever get are media opinions about not wearing poppies and other such nonsense.
Strong minded man.utmost respect for him for having the courage of his convictions.
The amount of abuse he gets for choosing not to wear a poppy is a disgrace.
Some man
Ger you have opened the door, now explain yourself if you can. I’d like to know why you call him a sectarian thug. There are many of us up here like him and sectarian thug is not something I would like to be called. So when you have time could you please support your accusation.
@gus lennon: gers obviously a plastic paddy,that young fella,is Irish,proud yes,and why not?grew up in a troubled area,never got caught up in it, representing Ireland,what more do u want from him,away back to your doting chair boy
You all say that he is “strong minded, honest and a proud Irish man” (all of which I agree with) like it negates the fact that he is a thug, and a sectarian one at that. He is an invaluable member of the Irish team on the pitch but I wouldn’t want my daughter bringing him home.
@Ger: why?
@Ger: Watch you don’t hurt yourself getting down off that high horse!
@Ger: get you’re a Langer
@Ger: ger you’re a super Langer
@ryan o sullivan: why is he a thug? Him and his brother joking on twitter about a tackle that could have ended a players career. Why do I feel he is sectarian? Plenty of evidence on his twitter account. Previous managers made him delete some, but there is plenty there. Have a read.
@billy Dorney: Impressive contribution billy
@Seamus Mc Meel: Pointing out thuggish behavior is hardly being on “a high horse”.
@Ger: glad you liked it,
Shocked James,that they’d think a creggan man would have such thoughts,when I lived there,you’d never hear such sentiment,,,(sic)
Billy I’d assume you’re not having a dig at me. I think Ger doesn’t really understand what he’s on about. If he did he wouldn’t have said what he did. Then again the people who were threatening McClean and conniving to destroy him didn’t know what they were on about either. He was an easy target because he was on his own.
@gus lennon: nah Gus, referencing that Langer Geraldine,hope he’s only winding us up?then again,there’s always one.