WHEN the sporting nostalgia section featured a photograph of Church Road Primary School football team from May 1980 on November 22 it turned out to be a spooky coincidence.

For that very same week, the old school pals – including Wanderers boss Keith Hill – reunited for a catch-up and to reminisce about the old days when they were joint league champions, runners-up in the Bolton Evening News Knockout Cup and also in a six-a-side tournament for Bolton junior schools.

After the picture was published, reader Richard Atherton got in touch to reveal the reunion and also send a picture from the night with some of those from the original line-up in attendance.

He said: "I’m in the picture published. It’s a hell of a coincidence as the team had a bit of a reunion the previous Sunday.

"I include the picture which includes Keith Hill, the Bolton manager.

"He’s the one stood directly in front of the teacher in the original.

"I was stood over Keith’s left shoulder on that picture."

Another member of that team, Dave Park, also got in touch with more memories.

He added: "I arranged the get together having being able to contact the teacher, Mr Childs, through this picture.

"We have always had a copy.

"A few more memories are that we also won the schools' cricket trophy that year – the team included Ronnie Irani who went on to play for Lancashire, Essex and England.

"Also in our year was Neil Fairclough, who is now the bass player for Queen."