West Brom winger James McClean opens up about poppy fiasco
Albion winger James McClean has opened up about the abuse he received for refusing to wear a poppy, which led to him quitting Sunderland in 2013.
McClean, who comes from Derry, received death threats for his decision not to wear the symbol of remembrance on his shirt.
In an interview with the BBC, the Republic of Ireland revealed how, on one occasion, a fan spat on the windscreen of his car shortly before his stay at the Stadium of Light came to an end.
McClean said: "It was the last game of the season. I gave my shirt to a kid outside the stadium. His father took it off him and threw it back at me.
"Then on the way home we pulled up at the traffic lights. The other car rolled down its window and someone spat on my window.
"My partner was in the car and was pregnant at the time. I thought, I am about to bring a baby into this world. I don't need all this hassle."
McClean, who left Sunderland that summer and joined Wigan, has explained his stance on not wearing a poppy on numerous occasions.
"I've had death threats and a lot of people say I'm anti-British," he said. "I'll go on record and say I've never been anti-British.
"There's certain things I don't agree with, with my beliefs. I've made that very clear in the past, but I don't people at face value and treat them how they treat me.
"I've had a lot of death threats, it started after I declared (to play) for the Republic of Ireland."
McClean went on to join Albion from Wigan in the summer of 2015 for a fee of £1.5million and has made 72 appearances in all competitions for the Baggies.
And the 28-year-old revealed how Albion boss Tony Pulis convinced him to turn down a move to the MLS and the New York Red Bulls and return to the Premier League.
"I love New York but I could not turn down the chance of playing in the Premier League," said McClean.
"He (Pulis) outlined his plans for me and the club and for me. It was a no-brainer.
"Having a manager that believes in you there's no better feeling. The thing with Tony he knows you're going to work hard.
"He demands nothing but hard work. As a footballer that should be the minimum, that's what you're paid to do.
"I could stay here for many more years, I've got a long-term contract. I'm going the right way.
"I'm a very ambitious person and I want to be the best I can be and I feel that West Brom are the same, they want to be the best they be.
"They've got ambitions to be even better again."