The last ever football game to be played at the old Wembley Stadium ends England 0-1 Germany on 7 October 2000

Not until 30 September 2002 does the long-awaited demolition work begin as bulldozers move in on the twin towers

Just a fraction of a tower remains as work to demolish the rest of the original stadium's structure nears completion

The new stadium's shape starts to emerge as the iconic arch is raised into position above the stands' skeletons in 2004

The arch stands serenely above the chaos of ongoing construction work, a full 133m above where the pitch will be

On 6 July 2005 the arch is lit up to celebrate the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games being awarded to London

But in the cold light of day there is still much work to be done on the new stadium's interior

As storm clouds gather over Wembley on 21 February 2006, the FA announce the Cup Final will again be played in Cardiff

In May 2006, the England football team and boss Sven-Goran Eriksson are invited to check out the new stadium

One week later England's winning 1966 World Cup team reunite with their original shirts at the north London stadium

On 12 June 2006 the first strip of turf is laid, exactly one month after Wembley was meant to host the FA Cup Final

Amid controversy, the Football Association says the first game to be played on the new pitch will be the 2007 FA Cup Final

When completed, Wembley Stadium will overtake Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as the UK's largest football venue

Moving inside to the stadium's more private areas, the new players' changing rooms are sleek and modern in style

Resembling the facilities of a luxury hotel, the bathrooms offer space in which the players can relax after a tough game

On completion, the new stadium will have taken almost five years to build - its predecessor took a mere 300 days

The Football Association is finally given the keys to Wembley from construction firm Multiplex on Friday, 9 March 2007

The new stadium must now host test events on 17 and 24 March to gain necessary licences before it can be used

But the FA is confident that a new dawn at Wembley will be brought in by the return of the FA Cup final on 19 May, 2007