THIS photograph was instantly recognised by reader John Ryan.

He recalls it shows workmen preparing an extension and resurfacing of Burnden Park car park in the 1957/8 season.

“The car park was made up of cinders and other compact material before this and it was being relaid with a proper surface,” he says.

Wanderers had long since made complaints to the council regarding numerous derelict cottages which were the property of the nearby railway that ran behind the ground, he adds.

Part of a wall can be seen in the centre of the photograph.

“These houses had the effect of bottlenecking fans coming to and from the ground and the club eventually succeeded in getting them pulled down, this having a massive positive effect on fan movement.

“A railway bridge pulled down as recently as the 1980s also spanned Manchester road causing a double bottleneck.

“The pub on the right as you look at the picture is still there. If the picture was taken again today the man looking towards Burnden Park would be standing on the filter lane that takes you onto the retail park. John explains that this was a time when the Wanderers regularly attracted crowds in excess of 40,0000 fans.

“It is remarkable that it took from moving to that site in 1895 to 62 years later to get the houses removed,” he says. John adds that many people will not realise the historical significance of the site.