James McClean is from Londonderry – sorry, Derry – and he’s very keen to let people know.
From tweeting about his home city’s rightful name to causing controversy by not singing ‘God Save the Queen’ for his English club, and even – gasp – not wearing a WWI commemorative poppy – McClean has always made his political stance clear.
Today, he finds himself at the centre of another social media row, and all he did was play football. Commentator Alan Parry was the one to kick things off, when he referred to McClean as “the Northern Irishman from Londonderry” during last night’s West Brom v Man City game.
The NI Man from Londonderry?? More fuel on the fire? James McClean Rep Ireland player from Derry @SkySportsNewsHQ pic.twitter.com/iiRQ7Hwp79
— Ryan Stewart (@ryanmtstewart) August 10, 2015
While it’s possible veteran commentator Parry was simply reading the facts as he saw them from his notes, given McClean’s very public stance on the subject, the comment stuck out like a red poppy.
And twitter users were not happy at all.
Alan Parry has just been woken up by his GSTQ alarm ringtone, jumped out of his Union Jack PJ's & sang 'No Surrender To The Ira'. Fair play
— Cian Carroll (@CianByName) August 11, 2015
Good man Alan Parry. Needlessly provocative stuff towards James McClean and 100% pure, undistilled Partridge. https://t.co/w05m6X71OE
— Michael Foley (@MickFoley76) August 10, 2015
Has Alan Parry referred to Raheem Sterling as the Jamaican from Kingston yet??
— Alan Morrissey (@AlanMorrissey) August 10, 2015
Last night James McClean was described as being from Londonderry in N Ireland, I imagine that will irritate him more than being subbed at ht
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) August 11, 2015
"alan parry's a disgrace" what for stating facts? #dontthinkso 🇬🇧
— tanya (@tanyawarwick_) August 10, 2015
For McClean’s part, the commentary about his performance was about right – he was substituted at half time.
.@JoeCallaghan84 to be fair, he may have asked to have come off to ensure he could get to Alan Parry.
— Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) August 10, 2015
The latest furore on social media follows McClean’s refusal to sing ‘God Save the Queen’ in July when his team played a South Carolina team – a rare international fixture for the premier league club.