These are exciting times for Charlton Rovers Football Club.

They are in pole position in the race for the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One title – a title they have never won – and are well advanced in their plans to move to a new ground for the start of the 2019/20 season.

The division’s new leaders took a step closer to becoming champions when they drew 1-1 with third-placed Chalford on Tuesday when a late goal by midfielder Jack Williams earned them a point.

The draw took them above FC Barometrics on goal difference and they have a game in hand on their Cheltenham-based rivals, who have two games to play.

Chalford, the outsiders in the three-horse race for the title, are two points behind the top two and have just one game to play – at Tuffley Rovers Reserves on Monday.

It has been an intriguing battle between all three teams this season and while they have been rivals on the field they all have something very much in common off it – none of them have facilities that are good enough for entry into the County League which is the next step up the football pyramid.

And that is why Charlton Rovers are planning to move their headquarters five miles away from Balcarras School in Charlton Kings to Shipton Oliffe the season after next.

“We’ve got a lease on a piece of land next door to the golf course and just behind the Frogmill,” said Charlton Rovers secretary Ian Courtney-Smith.

“We are demolishing the existing buildings and we’ve got planning permission to put up new ones.

“Then if we are in contention for promotion next season we hope to have the new facilities approved by the County League by 31st March 2019. That’s the strategy.”

The cost of redeveloping the ground is about £60,000 and while the club have a fair chunk of that money, they could always do with more help.

“If any local businesses in Charlton Kings or Shipton Oliffe want to sponsor us that would be wonderful,” added Courtney-Smith.

“We have developed a funding pack which offers a range of advertising options to anyone who is interested to be involved in our exciting project while supporting the local community as we offer football to boys and girls from the age of six through to our veterans’ team. Our aim is to offer football to all, regardless of ability or background.”

Charlton Rovers AFC were founded in 1976 but for the adult first team in particular it’s certainly been a wonderful seven years or so for the club – who will retain their name when they move to Shipton – because in that time they have enjoyed multiple promotions.

“My own two sons have come through Charlton Rovers from the time they could first kick a ball but when I first became involved in the club in an official capacity 10 or 11 years ago I think we were in division three of the Cheltenham League so that means we’ve had four promotions in that time.” said Courtney-Smith.

And once Rovers got out of the Cheltenham League they soon adapted to life at the higher level.

“We won Division Two of the Northern Senior League at the first attempt and were in the top five of Division One for the past two seasons,” said Courtney-Smith.

Now they are on the cusp of going one step further under manager Richard Cox, who has been in charge for the past three seasons, by actually winning the division.

“It would be absolutely superb,” said Courtney-Smith, “especially when you consider where we were 10 years ago.”

So who are some of the key players who have been leading the way at Charlton Rovers this season?

“It is never easy to name individuals when the success is very much a team effort but I would say midfielder Sean Cooke has made a big difference,” said Courtney-Smith.

“He’s from the Pershore area and has played for Pershore Town. He’s an attacking midfielder who plays just in the hole behind the front two.

“And goalkeeper Dan Greenhouse is another new player who has made a big difference since joining from Bredon – he has excelled behind a very strong defence comprising players who have all come up from the junior ranks.”

It’s been a real team effort, however, because Charlton Rovers boast a goal difference of 58 which is 19 better than FC Barometrics and 30 better than Chalford.

“We’re good in defence and attack,” said Courtney-Smith. “James Barnett and Ben Williams, who is our captain, form a strong central defence but the whole squad have done really well.”

FC Barometrics’ penultimate game is at home to Brockworth Albion on Saturday and they complete their fixtures at home to Bibury a week on Saturday.

Charlton Rovers host Tuffley Rovers Reserves on Saturday and after travelling to Taverners on the following Saturday host Quedgeley Wanderers in their final game of the season on Saturday 5th May.

By then they will know exactly what they will be required to do and supporters of the club – they run three senior teams and 20 junior teams (two teams at every age group from under-8 through to under-17) plus a girls’ team and a veterans’ team – will certainly be hoping that the champagne corks will be popping come that first Saturday in May.

So how far can the club go?

“How long is a piece of string?” said Courtney-Smith.

“The further we go the greater are the infrastructure requirements and the more it costs. We need funding and/or sponsorship, there will come a time when we have to pay players; it becomes a different animal.

“At the moment, given the current structure and funding, I think two more promotions to the Hellenic League are very attainable. After that, who knows?”

Any businesses who would like to sponsor Charlton Rovers should contact chairman Tom Price or secretary Ian Courtney-Smith to receive an information pack for the Shipton Oliffe project.