The first of the brick-faced panels that will clad Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has been manufactured.

A grand total of 731 of the façade panels will eventually roll off the production line at Explore Manufacturing’s Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction factory in the East Midlands.

And in a tantalising glimpse of what the finished stadium will look like, the exterior brickwork can now be seen for the first time.

Stretching around the entire stadium, the panels have been designed to incorporate an appreciative nod to renowned stadium architect Archibald Leitch who, from 1899 to his death in 1939, was involved in the design of stadiums for many football clubs across the UK and Ireland, including Everton.

His work is often recognised by the criss-cross trusses incorporated into the brickwork, which are a feature of Everton’s Goodson Park stadium. 

Peter Lyons, a lifelong Everton fan and the Business Unit Leader of Explore Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Laing O’Rourke (LOR), said: “Personally and professionally, it is a great honour to see the Everton façade product flowing through our factory in Worksop.

“Manufacture of the structural elements has progressed rapidly over the last six months, and it is wonderful to now see the façades being manufactured.

“The LOR team at Bramley-Moore dock will soon have these installed, and we’re determined to keep up the momentum on the project.

“Our manufacturing leader, Jamie Slatter, is a season ticket holder at Goodison Park, so he’s keeping an extra close eye on the stadium product - and he’s always for the club’s motto, ‘Nil Satis Nisi Optimum’ (Nothing but the best is good enough) in mind!”

For the latest stadium updates, keep an eye on Everton’s official channels.