The new stadium has impressed many passers-by, but for those on location this week, it has been so good that the earth has moved!

The works have begun on preparing the pitch for the specialist contractors due on site next week. They will be in charge of setting down the foundations for the new surface that will be graced by not only the current Colchester United squad but the future stars of the Essex club.

Some 11,000 tonnes of soil has been moved over the past week, as the Barr staff begin to build up the pitch ready for the drainage channels to be introduced in the coming weeks.

The pitch will have a slight crown across the middle, allowing water to drain away more readily and avoid any problems with waterlogging - something which should not be the case with the drainage network beneath.

However, the soil has not only been used on the pitch, but is also in situ ready for use in the car park which will begin in the coming weeks.

Behind the South Stand, meanwhile, the works have now begun on the link road which will take the new road starting at the FlaktWoods Factory through to the existing Boxted Road entrance on the other side of the stadium site.

At this stage, the drainage works are being put in place, with further work due to follow in the coming weeks.

Much of the external brickwork and breezeblock work around the four stands has now been completed and, in the four corners which will initially not have seating in place, the brickwork for the walls will soon get underway to enclose the stadium's four sides.

Inside the West Stand, the breezeblock work for the club and administration offices has nearly been completed and the scaffolding has been removed, giving a better picture of how big the rooms are likely to be once they are operational both on a matchday and during the week.

Higher up in that main stand at the new 10,000 all-seater facility, works have now begun in partitioning the 24 Executive Boxes that will house many of the corporate guests on a matchday next season.

The back walls of the majority of the boxes are now in place, with the walls partitioning each box from one another also being installed. These walls will be soundproofed to give guests in these areas protection from their nearest neighbours.

Meanwhile, with the brickwork almost done, the electrical and drainage works are now gathering speed.

This has included the first parts of the plumbing for the toilets in the East Stand being installed, following the installation of the urinals in the Mens' toilet areas a couple of weeks ago.

The two other stands - North and South - are quickly reaching this point as well, and the coming weeks will see a rapid development internally as the site continues to take shape.

The build is now some 34 weeks old, so the clock is ticking louder than ever - both until the move to the new ground and also on the time left here at Layer Road.

As we revealed in the last matchday magazine for the game against Preston, we will be producing a book full of YOUR stories and anecdotes of our time at this famous old stadium, so turn to page 55 for more details!

Remember, we will have regular photographic updates of the new stadium build on CU-FC.com, along with exclusive interviews with the men making it happen down at Cuckoo Farm.