“No-one has ever done this kind of thing before and it’s about time we encouraged healing between the clubs and put behind us any problems from the past and celebrate our joint bloodline.”

The painting of Rev. Ben Swift Chambers is of particular interest as photographs of him had proved elusive.

In 1877, he was appointed superintendent and minister of St Domingo Chapel in the Everton district of Liverpool. His brand of ‘muscular Christianity’ led to the formation of the team that would become Everton Football Club and, by consequence, Liverpool Football Club.

A special service to re-dedicate his grave was held in the Yorkshire village of Shepley last summer but pictures of Chambers proved difficult to come by.

However, after exhaustive research by Paul Wharton, a member of the Everton Shareholders’ Association, the family of a former St Domingo’s caretaker were tracked down.

It transpired that the Methodist church kept a book of photographs depicting the circuit ministers and so an image of Chambers was found.

Dr France added: “I was a bit surprised by his appearance as I was expecting him to be clean shaven but he had a big beard and wore John Lennon glasses.

“Actually all six are the same size and they have been done with exactly the same vintage background. I’d like people to look at them and think: ‘Yes, this is the history of us as a city with an unrivalled football history.’ We’re a city that has always had a team in the top-flight from day one and these paintings are a real celebration of that.”