Poppy protest footballer James McClean gives rival fans the middle finger at final Wrexham match

James McClean bid farewell to English football in a typically controversial fashion by sticking his middle finger up at rival fans during Wrexham's 1-1 draw with Leicester City on Tuesday.<br /><br />The former Republic of Ireland star, who has agreed to return to hometown club Derry City this month after 15 years in English football, was in attendance at the Racecourse Ground as he marked his final appearance in front of the Wrexham crowd.<br /><br />While enjoying a lap of honour at full-time, the 36-year-old footballer, who has been no stranger to controversy during his career, gave a parting shot to rival fans by showing them his middle finger.<br /><br />After footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media, McClean posted a photograph of himself performing the offensive gesture on Instagram, with the caption: 'To all the away fans of [sic] the years, and good riddance. It's been a laugh.'<br /><br />Throughout his career, McClean has been targeted by fans over his refusal to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday, and it would appear his gesture towards Leicester City fans, who represent the rival supporters in England who have abused him as a result, is directly linked.<br /><br />His hometown, known to Republicans as Derry, was the scene of the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, in which British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a protest march, killing 14.