BOB Mather correctly identified the line-up and season of this picture, which featured on the Shakers' Memory Lane page in the April 13 edition.

The players of the 1976/77 team are back, from left, Derek Spence, Steve Hoolickin, Keith Kennedy, John Thomson, Tony Bailey, Joe Murty; middle, Les Hart, Dennis Butler, Ronnie Phillips, Lawrence McMahon, Andy Rowland, Gerry Keenan, John Forrest, Colin Darcy, Malcolm Brown, Jimmy Mullen, Wayne Entwistle, Billy Rudd; front, Brian Stanton, Alan Woolfall, Peter Farrell, Bobby Smith, Brian Williams, Jimmy McIlwraith, George Hamstead.

Mather added: "Dave Hatton, who only missed one league game, signed in the summer but was not on the photo.

"After promotion from Division Four in 1974 under Bobby Smith, the Shakers consolidated well over the next two seasons and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup both times.

"They went one better in 1976/77, finishing seventh, not far off the third promotion place.

"That turned out to be Bury's best league placing between relegation from the Second Division in 1969 and 1990, when we reached the play-offs.

"Home results were good from the start with six straight league wins, including a televised 3-0 win against promoted Brighton and a great recovery from 2-0 down to beat Preston, Jimmy McIlwraith scoring the winner.

"Only one away win up to Christmas meant a mid-table place, but that all changed following Billy Tucker's debut winner at Port Vale, which was followed by six more away wins.

"I had my own car for the first time in 1976. This made it a lot easier to get to away games from my base in Chester.

"I recall missing the first goal at Rotherham not realising it was a 7.15pm kick-off, the autumn sunshine of a 2-2 draw at Oxford, racing to a 3-0 half time lead at Reading – we usually did the double against them in the 1960s and 1970s but haven't won there since – Andy Rowland's deserved equaliser at Brighton, and an injured Billy Rudd laying on the winner at Preston.

"Thankfully, one of the few games I missed was the 7-0 loss at a frozen Chesterfield.

"Andy Rowland was top scorer and had perhaps his best season for Bury.

"John Forrest and Keith Kennedy were ever reliable, particularly in away games.

"Happy memories yet again."