James McClean concluded his English football career in a characteristically provocative manner, making a bold gesture towards rival fans during Wrexham’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City on Tuesday.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who has decided to return to his hometown club Derry City after a 15-year stint in English football, attended the game at the Racecourse Ground for his final appearance in front of the Wrexham supporters.

As he took a lap of honor at the end of the match, the 36-year-old, known for his history of controversial moments, made a parting statement by raising his middle finger to the opposing fans.

McClean has long been a target for criticism due to his stance on not wearing a poppy on Remembrance Sunday. His gesture towards the Leicester City supporters, who represent those who have historically harassed him over this issue, seems to directly relate to the controversy surrounding his decision.

His hometown, referred to as Derry by Republicans, is historically significant as the site of the 1972 Bloody Sunday tragedy, where British soldiers opened fire on 26 unarmed civilians during a protest march, resulting in 14 fatalities.

WARNING: Graphic images

James McClean gave Leicester fans the middle finger as he took to the pitch ahead of Wrexham’s game against the Foxes in the Championship

McClean’s wife says it is a ‘huge relief’ for their family to finally be leaving England, with the couple moving back to Ireland

McClean thus refuses to wear the poppy because he believes it commemorates all British military activity, not just the soldiers of the World Wars. His stance over the years has led to numerous death threats and anti-Irish abuse. 

The Irishman, who moved to England when he joined Sunderland in 2011, now hopes to finish his career at Derry City after stepping away from the controversy.

McClean’s wife, Erin, revealed that the couple felt a ‘huge sense of relief’ about uprooting their family from their Cheshire home and returning to Northern Ireland, saying the move would allow them to ‘close the door’ on the abuse they had faced in England. 

She told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme: ‘It’s a mixture of emotions, we are so excited to get home.

‘It’s something we always wanted to do is settle back. It’s just happened a bit quicker than we anticipated.

‘We have built a life here for 15 years and made great friends, so we are sad but also excited.

‘Pulling the Derry top on again and listening to him in the press conference and stuff, like after, we went out for food and were just walking along the quay and I just couldn’t stop smiling.

‘I said: “Oh my God, this is it, this is going to be our normal again doing things like this.”

McClean has faced regular abuse, and even death threats, for his refusal to wear a poppy and take part in Remembrance Day activities

They are leaving their Cheshire home after McClean’s move from Wrexham to Derry City

‘You miss out on so much being away, weddings and family get-togethers and stuff, knowing now going forward that we’ll not have to miss out on anything like that, that’s the stuff that means the world to us.’

The duo married in 2016 and they have four children. They have remained living in Cheshire while he has been at Wrexham. 

McClean made almost 500 appearances in the English league and cup system, spending five of his seasons in the Premier League with Sunderland and West Brom.

His stint with Wrexham was highly successful, as he helped the side climb from League Two and into the Championship, where Phil Parkinson’s side are now pushing for a play-off place. 

But ever since he first refused to wear the poppy at Sunderland, he has been subjected to abuse. 

Last year, he revealed he was making and throwing petrol bombs at the age of 11 and feared he would be shot after refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy.

In an interview on Living with Lucy in Ireland, McClean spoke in detail about his experiences growing up during a time of conflict.

He said: ‘There would just be riots here nonstop and you’d be involved in the riots yourself. From the age of 11, 12, 13 – I knew how to make petrol bombs and knew how to throw them and you would.’

Erin says the family are ‘closing the door’ on the torrent of abuse he has suffered for years 

He describes the issue of the poppy as ‘a pain in my a***’ and it first became a controversy when McClean was at Sunderland. The club released a statement telling fans it was the player’s choice not to wear one, leading to a public outcry and even threats on his life.

He added: ‘At that age, I was 23, so I thought “the club is looking after me”. You just assume the club is looking after one of their players. They’re telling me not to say nothing, like it will blow over. I’m thinking “I believe you, it will”.

‘It didn’t. It went insane. I was getting death threats, people were saying I should be shot. I was getting bullets in the post, bullets sent to the club.

‘That night I met up with Ireland, the club had received threats that basically I was going to be shot. The game was on TV, I was going to be shot, this and that.

‘She’s (Erin, wife) back up in Newcastle, she’s panicking, she’s s****ing herself. They had to put security outside my hotel room door the whole night.

‘Then obviously we’re playing the game, Erin’s watching the game, she’s panicking, she’s thinking ‘he’s going to be shot on TV’. Thankfully nothing happened or nothing ever has happened.’

Clubs typically sell their Remembrance Day shirts and give the proceeds to the Royal British Legion, while McLean has sold his shirts – without the poppy emblem – and given the money to a children’s charity in Ireland.

McClean insists his stance is not anti-British or anti-religious and would wear a poppy if it was confined to those who served in World War I and II.