Cheltenham Civil Service head into another big Saturday of football with their three senior men’s teams all enjoying unbeaten league records this season.

The flagship team, who won promotion to Division One of the Northern Senior League at the end of last season, have taken to life at the new level very well and go into the home against Whitecroft having won four and drawn two of their opening six games.

It’s a run of form that has taken them into third spot behind leaders Chalford and Brockworth Albion who have both played more games than Service.

The club’s reserves have made an equally impressive start in Division One of the Cheltenham League, winning two and drawing one of their opening three games which has left them tucked in behind leaders Tewkesbury Town.

The two teams met last Saturday at Cheltenham Civil Service – the game ended 2-2 – and they meet again on Saturday at Northway.

And not to be left out, Service’s 3rd team have also started the season well, winning their first two games in Division Three of the Cheltenham League.

Service’s impressive start to the 2019/20 campaign is a continuation of the form that the club have shown over the past two or three seasons.

Stephen Holend, who took over as manager of the flagship team in November 2015, has taken them on a steep upward curve, one that saw them win the treble of Cheltenham League, Senior Charities Cup and Junior County Cup a couple of seasons ago and follow up by winning promotion from Northern Senior League Division Two last time out.

They finished second to Woolaston in 2018/19 and Holend said: “It was a great achievement to get back-to-back promotions. We actually lost three of our first four games but then we went on a great run and ended up losing only five in total.

“I don’t think we were ready at the start of last season. The Northern Senior League starts in August and the Cheltenham League doesn’t get going until September and we weren’t fit enough.

“This season the players have come back fitter and it shows.”

Holend insists it is too early to say where his team will end up this season but the club are certainly ambitious.

“I don’t think you ever want to be playing in a competition if you don’t want to win it,” he said. “We definitely want to be contenders in the league.

“Chalford and Brockworth are obviously good teams and Harrow Hill are pushing on but we got a positive draw against Charlton Rovers – they’re a good footballing side – and we also drew at Woolaston.

“We’re setting our sights to be around the top end of the table.”

And that’s the aim for the reserves and the 3rd team in their divisions as well.

“Dan Midwinter is running the reserves and Aaron Walker is in charge of the 3rds,” continued Holend. “They are both player/managers and they are both quite young so it is great credit to them.”

A number of players who were in the club’s under-16 team last season – they competed in the Cheltenham Youth League – have graduated into adult football this season and the club certainly have one eye on the future as well because they are fielding an under-14 team this season.

It certainly all bodes well for the future of the club.