Horses draped in Everton flags lead procession as club legend Coleman pays his respects to popular fan who died working on new stadium
Everton club captain Seamus Coleman was one of hundreds of mourners who came out to pay respects at the funeral of lifelong Blues fan Michael Jones.
Michael, whose middle name was Goodison, died after an incident at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium construction site, where he was helping to build the club's new stadium, on August 14.
Today, horses draped in Everton flags pulled a grand white cart bearing Michael's coffin towards his funeral at St Joseph and St Laurence church in Kirkby this afternoon. Michael's family travelled in front 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.
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Everton's famous Latin motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, was written across both the hearse and Michael's coffin, with the words 'Our Lad' spelt out in flowers on top. The procession was led by bagpipers.
People lined the streets in Kirkby wearing Everton shirts and scarves to pay their respects to passionate Blues fan Michael, who travelled everywhere to watch his beloved team, while local residents hung blue flags and banners out of their windows as the procession passed by.
Club captain Coleman led an Everton delegation at the funeral that also included club chief executive Colin Chong, Blues ambassadors Graham Stuart and Ian Snodin and club chaplain Henry Corbett.
Everton’s broadcast and liaison manager and family friend Darren Griffiths composed a poem for Michael that was included in the order of service.
Ahead of the funeral, the firm constructing the club's new stadium, Laing O'Rourke, closed the Bramley-Moore Dock site as a mark of respect to Michael and to allow many of his friends and colleagues from the stadium construction team to attend the funeral.
In another powerful symbol of respect, Laing O’Rourke also tilted the jibs of all cranes on the Bramley-Moore Dock site towards Goodison Park, where Michael’s family and friends will gather in the evening as guests of the club.
Following the service, the funeral procession passed by Goodison Park and the new stadium site on Regent Road, en-route to a final farewell to Michael at Anfield Crematorium.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the popular young Blues fan on the day of his funeral, 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."
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