"When the club was building the new stadium, they offered anyone who wanted to purchase a stone along a path that's called Everton Way. We wanted to do it straight away so we would have something to remember Natalie by every time we went to matches, because we go over regularly. We've known about it for a while, so it was something for us to look forward to and it didn't disappoint. We went to the match early just to see it. It hits you straight away. It's very bittersweet. We took loads of pictures and we had a Everton top with Natalie's name on the back."
"After Sunday's match was over, they brought us down onto the pitch and Seamus Coleman, who's the captain, came down and chatted to us and took pictures. He must have chatted for half an hour and couldn't have been nicer. He was really genuine. It's a place for us to go and remember her. It's hard because it brings it all back, but it's really nice to have the memorial stone that we can look at every time we go over. It does hit you when you see it. It was very emotional, but Natalie would have loved it and it means so much to us. It was a big moment and one that we will rem"
Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. Stephen McCullagh, 35, has been charged with her murder and denies the allegation. Natalie was a devoted Everton FC fan and the club displayed her image on a big screen and accommodated the family with hotel accommodation and box tickets. The family purchased a memorial stone along Everton Way at the new stadium and attended a match to see it unveiled. Captain Seamus Coleman met the family on the pitch and spoke with them at length. The memorial provides a permanent place for the family to remember Natalie and evokes strong emotions.
Read at Irish Independent
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