It seems only three things in life are certain - death, taxes, and the annual UK media outrage over James McClean refusing to wear a poppy.
The former Irish international has repeatedly taken a strong stance against taking part in the Remembrance Day commemorations ever since moving to England.
Held in November every year, Remembrance Day sees minutes of silence held at grounds throughout the UK, and teams wear a poppy to commemorate British soldiers killed in historical conflicts.
A proud Derryman, McClean has explained that his opposition to the poppy is down to the actions of the British army in his home city during the Troubles. He has repeatedly driven home his respect for anyone who does choose to wear a poppy while making clear he will not reconsider his position.
Regrettably, McClean's opposition to the poppy has earned him significant abuse from English fans every since moving to the country. The 35-year-old has faced significant sectarian abuse from opposition supporters every November and has come under fierce media scrutiny each year.
Things are no different this year. Wrexham man McClean earned support from his club's fans as he stood away from his team during the minute's silence and once again refused to wear a poppy - but the now traditional onslaught of headlines and online abuse has become tiresome for McClean and his family.
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Erin McClean fed up with annual James poppy stories
Despite the support for James McClean from the Wrexham fans on Saturday, it was predictably a different story online.
Major UK news outlets such as Sky News, the Independent, Daily Mail, the Mirror, and the Star all led with McClean's refusal to wear a poppy in their headlines on Saturday. It is a narrative which McClean's wife Erin has grown tired of.
Taking to Twitter, Erin McClean said, "I don't know about the rest of you...but this is just boring now. 12 years on you'd think it'd be old news."
Along with the onslaught of stories in the UK media, McClean has also had to face the traditional slew of abusive comments online.
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The Irishman took to social media after Wrexham's 1-0 win over Mansfield Town to once again explain his stance towards the poppy.
McClean also hit back at some of the most common insults he receives online every November.
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 tho, 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 thats 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.
It's clear from James McClean's comments that he has no intention of reconsidering his position towards the poppy.
Depressingly, that likely means this narrative will once again resurface in future years of the Irishman's career.
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