Why American fans should care about the 2025 Club World Cup

As USMNT boss, Pochettino opens doors for Latino players, fans

Vinícius Júnior’s imperfect conception

The best players, coaches & teams of the 21st century - ranked

The 25 best USMNT players of the 21st century - ranked

Lineker opens Match of the Day with Michail Antonio tribute

CR7 back in EPL? Club backed to make gamble

Oscar bids farewell to China after netting extraordinary sum

Man City's FFP blow: PL could be encouraged by UEFA revelation

City's 115 charges hearing is over!

Mbappe ‘insanely furious’ with Messi after World Cup final

📽️ | Silva walks on his KNEES after avoiding relegation

'I don't care whether someone is 18 or 40' - Ancelotti tells young duo to earn their place 

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Irishman attracts plenty of attention</li><li>Enjoys interacting with opposition fans</li><li>Has never been one to hide from a challenge</li></ul><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="GOAL WhatsApp"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt867c2f6b843505e9/file.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;"><span class="affiliate-text">Follow GOAL's official WhatsApp channel!</span></div><a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Join now</a></div>

Wrexham star James McClean mocks Birmingham fans with ‘old steward’ & ‘2ft advertising hoardings’ jibe after receiving more crowd abuse in ‘Hollywood derby’ at St Andrew’s

League One

Wrexham

Cambridge U

Birmingham

Bristol Rovers

<p>The outspoken Irishman often <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/maximum-rizz-james-mcclean-flirting-rival-fans-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-wrexham-board-member/blta7de7de5774be961" target="_blank">finds himself the centre of attention at away grounds</a>, with rival <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/james-mcclean-more-pelters-wrexham-star-ready-abuse-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-sheffield-united-reunion-carabao-cup/blt4d1a9a340a8d1505" target="_blank">supporters making him a target for terrace taunts</a>. The same was true for McClean when making a trip to the West Midlands with Wrexham.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>McClean positively revels in hostile atmospheres, as a character that will <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-classic-james-mcclean-wrexham-star-goads-afc-wimbledon-fans-assisting-steven-fletcher-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-/blt48b8798774dba26b" target="_blank">never back down from a challenge</a>, and interacted with home fans after being replaced in a League One fixture that had been billed as a ‘Hollywood derby – with Rob McElhenney, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/tom-brady-thanks-david-beckham-teaching-birmingham-win-wrexham-inter-miami-co-owner/blt9d5e41d89768b562" target="_blank">Tom Brady and David Beckham among those in attendance</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Birmingham fans did cross the line after seeing McClean substituted in the second half, as <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wrexham-james-mcclean-league-one-birmingham-city/blt008fc9ead1a18008" target="_blank">cups rained down on him as he made his way around the pitch</a>, while the 35-year-old further goaded his detractors when taking up a seat on the bench.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>McClean is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/runs-mouth-better-than-defends-james-mcclean-teases-honkin-rival-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-wrexham/blt26a0ab55807384fe" target="_blank">eager to have the last word</a> in what was a fiery contest – which saw <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ready-rob-mcelhenney-reacts-welcome-to-birmingham-post-wrexham-defeat-hollywood-derby/blt80fe3f87c96be040" target="_blank">Wrexham suffer their first league defeat of the season</a> – and has posted on Instagram in response to those that were more mouth than action: “They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of an Irishman who doesn’t want to be broken.”</p><p>He added: “P.s fair play to the one old steward that held them all back from getting over the 2ft advertising hoardings.”</p><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt88f9b7da1260b460/mcclean%20brum.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt88f9b7da1260b460/mcclean%20brum.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt88f9b7da1260b460/mcclean%20brum.jpg?format=jpg" alt="James McClean Birmingham response" data-source="Instagram" data-copyright="Instagram" data-portal-copyright="Instagram" perform:prop="uuid:blt88f9b7da1260b460;width:466;height:784"></picture>

WHAT MCCLEAN SAID

<p>Wrexham co-owners McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are delighted to have McClean’s character and vast experience on board – having <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-acquired-different-breed-james-mcclean-jacob-mendy-explaining-wrexham-wing-back-special/blt14d2e181a9a0bd2e" target="_blank">acquired him ahead of a League Two promotion push in 2023-24</a> – and Phil Parkinson has handed the captain’s armband to the ex-Republic of Ireland international this season.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Wrexham star James McClean mocks Birmingham fans with ‘old steward’ & ‘2ft advertising hoardings’ jibe after receiving more crowd abuse in ‘Hollywood derby’ at St Andrew’s | Goal.com US

Wrexham star James McClean has mocked the Birmingham fans giving him abuse at St Andrew’s with “old steward” and “2ft advertising hoardings” jibes.

Wrexham star James McClean mocks Birmingham fans with ‘old steward’ &amp; ‘2ft advertising hoardings’ jibe after receiving more crowd abuse in ‘Hollywood derby’ at St Andrew’s