Irish Independent 2 SportSoccer Saturday 11 November 2017 DANIEL McDONNELL McClean uncovered The star of Ireland’s World Cup tilt has always polarised opinions. But who is James McClean? A journey to Top: The mural of the Ireland winger in Creggan as part of their ‘local heroes’ Creggan in theme NORTH WEST NEWSPIX. Above: One of the pictures which forms part of a photo history of Bloody Sunday located near the centre of the Derry estate Derry to meet HIS is Creggan. It’s To the right of the profile of Friday lunchtime and O’Doherty, there is a sketch of Tony O’Doherty is Olympic boxer Charlie Nash. his friends and pacing up and down in To the left, there is an artist’s his usual spot outside impression of Creggan’s most family shines T the Corned Beef Tin, famous sporting son, with a the area’s community centre on flame-coloured border tracing Central Drive. his distinctive features. It’s a a light on the The 70-year-old is wearing his proud Irishman with an 11 on the Derry City jacket because he will chest and a face that appears to later function as head steward at be roaring in celebration. James man behind the final home game of the season McClean is instantly recognisable. for a club where he served as both Around these parts, there are the headlines player and manager. constant reminders that he is one In Creggan, he has the presence of their own. In truth, it only takes of a manager on the sideline, a matter of seconds. monitoring everything that is “Look,” barks O’Doherty, going on in front of him. There “There’s James’ mother now.” is a wave, a shout or a gesture for He points to a couple coming everyone that passes. The beep out of a shop and getting into a car. from a milk van gets his attention. O’Doherty flags the vehicle down presenting a black and white history. Their present is shaped by “Alright Charlie,” O’Doherty and introduces McClean’s parents, photo-history of Bloody Sunday. the past. McClean is their modern- shouts. The driver, Charlie Ferry, Patrick (Waxsy) and Shauna, to the It chronologically lays out the day idol. was his team-mate on the 1974 stranger from Dublin. events of that fateful January day Outside of here, he can be Finn Harps FAI Cup-winning side. He asks if they would be open to in 1972. The last board features depicted in less flattering terms. They know their football in these a chat with a journalist looking to a row of coffins laid out in the The aggression when he’s on the parts. learn about their son’s background. neighbouring St Mary’s Church. pitch and the tackles, the tweets, Across the street from where Waxsy pauses. “Aye,” he says, “The march started just over and maybe even the tattoos, are O’Doherty is standing, there’s gruffly. “Bring him up to the there,” he says, pointing in the used to cultivate an image. And in a mural of his younger self, a house.” direction of the Bishop’s Field November, the month where there decorated player in both the Irish It turns out that O’Doherty, a sports complex next to the Corned is a space on his shirt where every League and League of Ireland and mentor to the young footballer as Beef Tin – a centre that is named other professional footballer in a twice-capped Northern Ireland he climbed the ranks, is a man who as such because the old building on England wears a poppy, that image international. can quite literally open doors. the same site looked remarkably can be spun into a caricature. He was one of the chosen ones On the short walk to Creggan like a Fray Bentos container. There are people who see what when artists were tasked with Heights, he provides a brief history School is about to break up they want to see. producing portraits of sporting lesson. The first part is viewable and the memorial means the kids But to understand James stars to cover the graffiti-laden along the way. Just around the from the Holy Child Primary that McClean, one must understand walls dotted between shop fronts. corner from the murals, and past stream out onto Central Drive Creggan. This can be the only The theme was local heroes. a car wash, there is a giant display will always be aware of the area’s starting point for his story. ‘On one side, we had the “Even now, while it has improved considerably, the problem we are James McClean (circled) with army that would give us a experiencing here is the lack of his under 12s Trojans team employment. There’s very little bit of grief. On the other investment in Derry. We’re still side, the IRA kinda left us waiting on the good road from Dublin to Derry, from Belfast to alone because even Derry.” ‘When he was 15, all of his buddies would have taken a though they weren’t These days, O’Donnell is chair of a healthy living programme that drink. James would be in watching Match Of The Day’ political at that time, they looks after residents of all ages. The HQ is just down the street recognised the usefulness from the Corned Beef Tin which is THEBOY birthdayandChristmaslistsas andsaid,‘Waxsy, there’shorses officially the home of the Creggan footballbegantodominatehis forcoursesandhe’s notmadefor of what we were doing’ Neighbourhood Partnership – a “YOUknowhestartedoffasa everythought. thebuildingsites.Allhedoesis registered charity that could goalkeeper,”laughsPatrick GerryColhoun,hismanager talkaboutfootball’.” THEPLACE reasonably be called a spin-off of ‘Waxsy’McClean,ashesettles atTrojansfrom9to12,didn’t StaffintheCornedBeefTin the Creggan FA’s work. backintohischairinaliving spotstarpotential.Jameswas havevividmemoriesofthe IT’S fitting that Tony O’Doherty The brief is wide, ranging roomthatisstackedwithfamily aquietboy–thatisO’Donnell’s fair-headedboywhoinvariably was born in 1947, the year that the from offering help with welfare photos.Wearesittinginahouse recollectiontoo–andadiligent hadaballathisfeet.Thenthere first houses were built in Creggan claims and running back-to-work onCregganHeightsthatisonly trainer.“Hewasjustoneofthe wastherunning,thenon-stop estate, because he has lived every programmes to organising the distinguishablefromtheothers averagelocalplayers,”says runningthatcontinuedright bit of its history since moving there cleaning up of the area and graffiti. ontheestatebecauseofthetwo Colhoun,whocomesintothe throughtohisprocareer.Thehills as a child. The Heal to Hurt organisation nicecarsthatareparkedoutside. kitchenoftheCornedBeefTin aroundCregganweremadefor The new community was the Tony O’Doherty in supports those battling addiction. There’sanopen-doorpolicy withtheTrojans’75thanniversary endurancetraining.Sightingsof local corporation’s response to front of a mural of his At night time, there’s a kids club forfriendsandfamilyandit’s a bookinaplasticbag.“Henever JamesrunningaroundSheriff’s overcrowding in the Bogside. younger self in Creggan which McClean attended when the hiveofactivity.James’brother missedasessionandwouldplay MountainalarmedDerryCity Housing for Catholic families was a original Corned Beef Tin lookalike Briancomesinandthendeparts atleft-backorleftmidfield.” staff,butanyprotestswerein pressing need and the geographical was still standing. When that withagearbagoverhisshoulder. Attheageof15,hewaspitched vain.Eveninthesnowywinterof location – up a steep hill near the Tierney and Gerry Duddy. The We never had a problem. People was demolished and an enhanced Anuncle,Paul,dropsintositon inwiththeSundaymorning 2010,hesetoffforaChristmas border with Co Donegal – allowed latter’s teenage brother Jackie saw it for what it was – it was version constructed in its space, thecouchandlistenastheproud adultteam,acharacter-building adventure. the Unionist majority to manage was shot dead on Bloody Sunday. something good.” he was the star at the official parents,whoareunderstandably experience.“Webelieveitwas Onanotheroccasion,he the electoral wards and maintain Six victims hailed from Creggan, Word spread and the well- opening (2015) and drops in to say guardedatfirst,discussthe aroundthenwhereJames happeneduponahalfmarathon their influence. including Charlie Nash’s sibling known English reporter Peter hello whenever he’s back. Martin householdnamethatgrewup mentallymadethedecisionhe thatwaskickingoffonCreggan By the time that O’Doherty had William – Charlie would go on to Taylor came to Creggan to produce O’Neill, an old acquaintance of betweenthesefourwalls. wantedtobeafootballer,” says Drive.Despitehisimproper reached adulthood, the population box for Ireland in Munich later that a documentary that was never O’Doherty, has stopped by too. Shaunacomesinandoutas Colhoun, attireofatracksuitandflat was rapidly growing, and so too was year. In difficult circumstances, broadcast. O’Doherty was told (The host teased the Irish manager there’sachildmakingnoisein “Itwaslikeheflickedaswitch. shoes,hemanagedtowanglean the disillusionment. His football the Creggan FA sought to provide the British government had by reminding him that only one of thekitchen.Waxsydoesmostof Hedidn’tdrinkorsmoke,hejust impromptuentry. Hismother’s career was taking off and in 1970 he hope. The Bishop’s Field became blocked it because it portrayed them owns an All-Ireland medal thetalking.“Iusedtobequick, trainedhissocksoff.” eyeslightupattheanecdote. played at Wembley for a Northern their playground. the community in a sympathetic – a Hogan Cup with St Columb’s likelightning,andtheolderboys Waxsyrecallsthefamily “Hecameseventh!”shelaughs. Ireland side that included George “We used to have football light. They had the power to College in 1965.) intheestatecalledmeWacky watchingaDavidBeckham “Therewasafellainabarwhowas