Everton: ‘Forever in our hearts’ – funeral tribute for fan
Everton captain Seamus Coleman joined thousands of mourners at the funeral of a lifelong fan who died working on the club’s new stadium.
Following a church service in Kirkby, mourners lined the streets near Goodison Park to pay their respects to 26-year-old Michael Jones.
Earlier, his family were read a moving poem as they said their goodbyes while the site closed for the day.
Mr Jones was fatally injured working on the docklands site on 14 August.
His family travelled in a blue hearse with images of Goodison Park on the side along with pictures of club greats
Howard Kendall, Alan Ball and Colin Harvey.
Written across the hearse was Everton’s Latin motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, with the words ‘Our Lad’ spelt out in flowers on top.
Horses draped in Everton flags pulled a grand white cart bearing the coffin towards St Joseph and St Laurence church.
During the service, a poem called ‘Forever in Our Hearts’ and written for Mr Jones – whose middle name was
Goodison – was read to family, friends and club officials.
There was a line in one lyric that said, “We know you’re watching Saturday, behind the Boys in Blue, but the next
three points that Everton get, Michael – they’ll be just for you.”
Coleman, the club captain, Colin Chong, the club’s interim chief executive, Graham Stuart, and Ian Snodin were all present.
Tributes
As the bagpiper-led procession passed by Goodison Park and the site of the new stadium on Regent Road on its way
to a final farewell at Anfield Crematorium, hundreds of supporters wearing Everton shirts and scarves waited for it.
On the Bramley-Moore Dock site where the tragedy happened, the club’s construction partner Laing O’Rourke tilted
the gibs of all cranes towards Goodison Park, where Mr Jones’ family and friends will gather in the evening as guests of the club.
Tributes poured in for the popular young Blues fan, with the Everton Fans’ Forum stating: “Today, we pause to
honour the memory of Michael Jones. Our hearts go out to his loved ones and those who shared in his life. Rest
peacefully, Michael.”
Following Mr Jones’ death, Everton manager Sean Dyche paid his respects at the site with a bouquet of flowers and a
hand-written message.
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, laid a wreath outside Anfield prior to his team’s Premier League match
against Bournemouth. The wreath read: “Condolences from everyone at Liverpool Football Club. YNWA”
In his honour, the players also observed a moment of silence before the 26th-minute ovation at Anfield.
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