James McClean is a Derry man.
He’s proud of that, he’s thankful for that and, even though he has made a name for himself in the biggest football league in the world, he’s never forgotten that.
He comes back to Derry whenever he can, his family still lives in the heart of Creggan and his friends are still there ready to cut him down to size every time he climbs onto another stage.
The Making of James McClean pic.twitter.com/ZmyBaU0tUh
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 9, 2017
Despite his meteoric rise though – one which is hard to believe started just over six years ago – James McClean still has compassion and empathy for his hometown natives.
Time and time again, he’s come to the support and aid of the people of Derry with pure generosity and selflessness.
He’s a good man who has a bad rep in some quarters because he wouldn’t wear a poppy out of respect for his town and the victims of The Troubles and because he didn’t want to face the English flag and stand to attention for the English national anthem. He has his own personal reasons and beliefs that are part of his upbringing and his network but he gets persecuted for staying true to his own principles – minding his own business in the process.
Still, when you couple those things with a hard tackle and a vocal love of Celtic, you’re going to polarise some people who don’t care if they have the wrong idea of you or not.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem is when people with a bigger influence spouts ignorance to a mass following. That’s a problem that exists in the world today beyond the realm of James McClean but, once more, the Derry man is being criticised for something he didn’t do.
Phil Campion, a Sky personality who has worked for Sky Atlantic and Sky News and is still involved with Sky News’ debate show The Pledge, took aim at the Republic of Ireland international’s tattoo of the Free Derry Corner.
Nothing to say about James McClean (West Brom) and his terrorist supporting tat then. Absolute disgrace, should have been banned from the sport. pic.twitter.com/mxa2ByfZOC
— BIG Phil Campion (@bigphilcampion) May 31, 2018
The Free Derry Corner is a historical landmark with so many meanings and emotions attached to it.
It’s a symbol of identity. It’s a memorial. It remembers the fallen, the struggle, the bad times and the better times. It was where the civil rights rally in 1972 was to be held before the tragedy of Bloody Sunday followed. Today, long after The Troubles, it still stands, synonymous with the town.
McClean, remembering his history, remembering Derry, is labelled an ‘absolute disgrace’ for choosing to do that his way.
Thankfully, ‘BIG Phil’ was very much in the minority.
https://twitter.com/BenTheTim/status/1002258420190400512
That's one ignorant statement 👎
— Shane McMenamin  (@Shane_McMenamin) May 31, 2018
You aren't very intelligent Philip are you? In what way is a world famous landmark and the national flag of a country 'terrorist supporting'?
— Liam (@liammcg74) May 31, 2018
Proud Derryman, Proud Irishman, Hero 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
— McGarvs (@mcgarvs1) May 31, 2018
Unfortunately, there are still too many people who’d rather not look at a case from every angle before jumping to judgement.
