“I want to go on record here and say I’ve never been anti-British. There’s certain things that I don’t agree with, my beliefs, but I take people at face value.” – James McClean, April 29th, 2017.
It was a shame that an Irishman making a living playing football in England would ever feel driven to make such a statement. And yet that is James McClean’s lot.
It is his lot because he is a proud Derry- and Irishman and a person that dearly abides by his beliefs.
He is adored in Ireland yet misunderstood by so many in Britain.
To Irish supporters, McClean is a guy who plays with total commitment, organises exhibition games against a Down Syndrome team, poses for photos with anyone that asks, is a proud father and someone that has donated to countless charities in his native Derry.
To many in this country, McClean is a foul-mouthed ne’er-do-well who hates the country he is playing in and who looks down upon its traditions.
And so the fissure widened ever more, last night, as McClean tore into Chelsea at The Hawthorns. He was a threat in attack and over-zealous in defence. He protested the yellow card he received – his 10th of the season – but the Chelsea players wanted him sent off.
Over on social media, it was pure nasty.
Struggling https://t.co/b9VddAgAE5
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 12, 2017
‘Fenian bastard’, ‘scumbag’, ‘Irish prick’. That was a taste of it. The tip of a rancid iceberg.
The torrents arrived via the Chelsea supporters in the away end too.
#chelsea fans showing their true colours towards James McClean tonight. Uninformed, uneducated bigots. Money can't buy class
— Chris McMenamy (@cmcmenamy95) May 12, 2017
Tony Pulis decided to withdraw McClean after an hour and the roar from the Chelsea section rang louder than the respectful patter from the home fans. It was not his night but it has certainly been a season to look back on fondly.
McClean has helped The Baggies to a highly respectable eighth place and proved himself as having genuine Premier League class.
Following the match, the 28-year-old reflected on exactly the right things from the previous nine months.
Lovely images of a father with his two West Brom-clad children. McClean didn’t need to say anything about the vile abuse and sectarian comments.
He has done that before. He has gone so far as to state his case on the BBC and do so with class, clarity and grace.
And yet the sick names and horrible comments continue to flow.
McClean is not bothered with them any more. He is focused on the greater things in life – football, family and friends.
