Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Leicester City v Arsenal - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - November 2, 2025
Arsenal's Katie McCabe in action with Leicester City's Sari Kees Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Leicester City v Arsenal - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - November 2, 2025 Arsenal's Katie McCabe in action with Leicester City's Sari Kees Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Kathryn Batte
©Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd
Today at 16:15
Arsenal’s Katie McCabe and a host of other Irish players chose not to wear poppies on their shirts in last weekend’s Women’s Super League matches.
McCabe started in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory at Leicester City on Sunday, which was the latter’s dedicated Remembrance fixture. Clubs traditionally have poppies stitched into players’ shirts which are then auctioned off in support of the Royal British Legion, which supports military service, members, veterans and their families.
But Republic of Ireland captain McCabe was one of several players who decided not to have the poppy on their shirt.
Brighton’s Caitlin Hayes also chose not to wear a poppy while Crystal Palace forward Abbie Larkin and London City Lionesses midfielder Hayley Nolan are understood to have taken the same stance.
McCabe has worn a poppy in previous seasons but made the personal choice not to do so this term. The defender took part in the minute of Remembrance before kick-off and will do so again when Arsenal have their own dedicated fixture against Chelsea on Saturday.
Wrexham captain James McClean has long opted against wearing a poppy and explained his stance last year.
“The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others,” McClean said. “Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy try be [sic] forced upon me.”
“The poppy which originally stood for World War 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland.
“That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy’s sole purpose was to honour world war 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but that’s not the case.”