{"product_id":"the-walls","title":"The Walls","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis is the raw untold story of a footballer from Creggan, a complex and\r\ndeprived area of his beloved Derry, who defied the odds to reach the\r\nsummit of his profession.\u003c\/b\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\nJames McClean grew up in the staunchly republican Creggan area of Derry\r\nwhere he came under the influence of Martin McGuinness, the IRA\r\ncommander\/Sinn Fein leader, amongst others. His decision to shun alcohol and\r\nother temptations from an early age meant that he could concentrate on his\r\nsporting talent and his dream of becoming a professional footballer. His\r\nbreakthrough came with his local club, Derry City (who don’t play in the\r\nNorthern Ireland league, but in the Rep of Ire league), before he was capped for\r\nan underage Northern Ireland team. He then dramatically switched his\r\nallegiance to the Rep of Ireland. He played 103 times for Ireland.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\r\nHe signed for Sunderland in the Premiership and went on to play for Wigan,\r\nWest Brom and Stoke before a return to Wigan and ending up most recently at\r\nWrexham. His English playing career could be termed more ‘journeyman’ than\r\nstar, but his life off the field was far from dull, most notably his decision not to\r\nwear a poppy when clubs started to print it on their jerseys. His decision meant\r\nhe has been both condemned and supported. The BBC said in 2015 that\r\nMcClean’s decision not to wear the poppy was one of the top 5 reasons people\r\nstated they wouldn’t wear one. After the refusal he was subjected to sectarian\r\nabuse and loyalist threats, including death threats.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\u003cb\u003eJames McClean\u003c\/b\u003e is an Irish professional footballer with Derry City. He previously\r\ncaptained Wrexham\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"James McClean","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57119323062537,"sku":"9781844887101","price":23.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/6181\/4281\/files\/TheWalls_6_2.jpg?v=1781712873","url":"https:\/\/bookstation.ie\/products\/the-walls","provider":"Bookstation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}