Football managers often talk up their players, it’s one of the things they do.

Sir Alf Ramsey once famously said that Martin Peters was 10 years ahead of his time, while the word genius has tripped off the tongue of every manager lucky enough to be in charge of the superstar that is Lionel Messi.

And there are others. Sir Alex Ferguson said Paul Scholes was “one of the greatest football brains Manchester United have ever had,” while Slaven Bilic used to tell anyone who would listen that Dimitri Payet was the best player at West Ham during their time together in the East End of London.

Closer to home Cheltenham Civil Service manager Steve Holend, who has steered the club back into the Northern Senior League after wrapping up the Cheltenham League Division One title before the end of February, was also happy to heap praise on his players when he spoke to The Local Answer a few weeks ago, just days before they were crowned champions.

Mind you, as we all know, you can’t please everyone all of the time.

“He described me as a shoveller,” laughed skipper and midfield mainstay Mike Kember, “I couldn’t believe that! He said that I do a lot of the nitty gritty, which I get, but shoveller, haha!”

Holend, of course, knows exactly Kember’s worth to his all-conquering side. He has been a vital cog in the Service engine room, and his performance in the 1-0 win over Bishop’s Cleeve III in mid-February was described as “colossal” by his approving boss.

Now 33, Kember was born in Kent and first discovered the delights of Gloucestershire in his late teens, when he became a student at Hartpury College.

After spells with Whitecroft and Belmore Jags, he joined Cheltenham Civil Service some 10 years or so ago and has never looked back.

For much of that time he was a 2nd team player, but the demise of the club’s County League team last season has elevated him to onfield leader of the club’s flagship team.

It’s his second season as captain, and as football seasons go they don’t come much better than the one that Service are enjoying.

“Yes, it’s been a really good year, especially after last season,” said Kember.

“We had high hopes last season but just missed out on promotion.

“One of the big differences this season is that we have always focused on the next game and not looked too far ahead.”

So how would Kember describe himself as a captain”

“A learning one, I’ve enjoyed this season a lot more,” he said. “I’m quite relaxed on the pitch. I do occasionally shout but that’s more to encourage people. I’m quite composed when I’m talking during a game.”

And how would he describe himself as a player?

“I’m not an aggressive tackler but I play hard and do what needs to be done,” he said. “I try to win the ball and pass it on and then let others do the skills.”

No mention of the word ‘shoveller’ then!

Kember’s 41-year-old manager still joins in Service’s training sessions occasionally, so what happens if the boss and his captain find themselves challenging for a 50-50 ball?

“I think there’s only one winner,” laughed Kember. “I might be 33 but I still have a few years on him!”

And while Kember admits he’d loved to be 10 years younger – who wouldn’t? – his manager will be pleased to hear that he has no plans to hang up his boots any time soon.

“I want to go on playing for at least another couple of seasons,” Kember said, “and hopefully as captain. I love being captain.”

Kember and his men will be playing at a higher level next season and they are very much looking forward to it.

And while he may have called his captain a shoveller, Holend knows that when the going gets tough there will be no one digging deeper than Kember!