Members of the Everton Shareholders Association have been given their first glimpse of Everton’s new waterfront home at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Two groups braved the elements on Thursday, when they enjoyed a guided tour of by Stadium Development Director Colin Chong and his team.

They witnessed first-hand the result of the huge maritime engineering project, which saw the former dock infilled with 500,000 cubic metres of sea-dredged sand, and a growing number of above-ground structures beginning to appear on site.

And shareholder Julie Hobson admitted she was excited by the vision of the Club’s future.

Julie, from the Wirral, said: “My first thoughts are that it’s hugely impressive. The amount of work that has gone into the project, just to get to level ground, is amazing and testament to everyone that’s taken part.

“We’ve all been following the progress through the website stories, images and videos, but nothing prepares you for seeing it for the first time.

“The sheer engineering feat of just getting us to this stage is something else and I don’t think anyone realises how difficult it must have been.

“I’m excited by what I’ve seen, and I can’t wait to see it complete.”

Julie added: “Colin mentioned in the tour about this being the Fourth Grace of Liverpool, and it will certainly be iconic.

“People sometimes bander that word about, without justification, but this will be iconic. I’ll be sad to leave Goodison because of all the family memories in 30 years of being there.

“But this is a new beginning and hopefully will be the star of a new, successful era for the club.”

The above-ground structures at both the north east and north west are now well underway, with foundations in place for elements of the super-structure to be installed soon in the two south corners of the new stadium.