Fans of Newcastle United can now finally believe their beloved club is on an upward trajectory - but as anyone who's been around the block a few times with the Magpies will testify, it's been a frequently rough ride to get to this point.
Our photograph from the ChronicleLive archive was taken at St James' Park 45 years ago in the run-up to the start of the 1977-78 season. From left, we see captain Geoff Nulty, left-back Alan Kennedy wearing a builder's helmet, manager Richard Dinnis, and right-back Irving Nattrass. Anyone who saw Nattrass and Kennedy in action will confirm they were one of the club's finest full-back pairings.
Hopes were high for the new campaign. United had ended the previous season fifth in League Division 1 - the club's highest finish since 1951. And qualification for the UEFA Cup had been achieved, meaning European football would return to Gallowgate for the first time since 1971.
