The family of Michael Jones have attended the unveiling of a permanent memorial in his honour at Everton Stadium
The family of Michael Jones have attended the unveiling of a permanent memorial in his honour at Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The huge Blues supporter tragically died in August 2023, while working on the construction of the club’s future home.
Mr Jones was rushed to Aintree Hospital after being injured on the site but sadly died shortly afterwards. And now a year on from his passing, his parents, Mick and Elaine, along with his sisters Gemma, Katie and Terri, were joined by invited family and friends to visit the site to mark the unveiling on The Plaza of a mooring post painted in royal blue and with a bronze ring attached bearing Michael’s name.
The family had previously attended the site to paint the mooring post in preparation for its unveiling. Everton’s CEO Colin Chong and Laing O’Rourke Project Director Gareth Jacques were also in attendance to pay their personal tributes to the Evertonian who was from Kirkby.
Mr Chong said: “Michael’s tragic death was felt by everyone connected with the club, and we still carry him and his family with us in our thoughts. His memory will live on in our new home, and we felt it was appropriate to have a lasting memorial to Michael here at the stadium he helped to build.
“Gareth and his team at Laing O’Rourke worked with the family to agree what that might look like, and the Royal Blue mooring post bearing Michael’s name will, I am sure, provide some small solace, as well as providing the thousands of Evertonians visiting the stadium a place to pay their own personal tributes.”
Gemma Leary, Michael’s sister, reflected: “It is an emotional day for all the family to be here to unveil the memorial to Michael. His love for Everton was known to all, and Michael was so proud to work on the development of the new stadium, so it feels right that his memory will live on here.
“I’d like to thank everyone that came out this afternoon, as well as Everton and Laing O’Rourke, for keeping Michael in everyone’s thoughts. I’d also like to thank all of the Evertonians around the world for their support and messages of condolence over the past year.”