Tom Manning is chasing a league and league double and yes, you did read that correctly.

You see, the 35-year-old is manager/coach of Heart of Gloucester Under-12s and joint manager/coach of Abbeymead Rovers Sunday Under-12s, both of whom are top of their respective divisions.

Heart of Gloucester have won all eight of their games in the Severn Valley Youth League – they beat Churchdown Panthers City 6-0 at the weekend – while Abbeymead Rovers are going almost as well in Division One of the Cheltenham Youth League.

They have won seven and drawn one of their eight games and, as with Heart of Gloucester, have been scoring a lot of goals along the way.

The Abbeymead team were formed this season – they include half-a-dozen players from Heart of Gloucester – and Manning runs the team with his friend Steve Small.

He’s been with Heart of Gloucester a lot longer – since the under-7s – a team that includes his son Tommy.

Tommy, a central midfielder, is one of the players who also plays for Abbeymead Sunday so just as with his dad, football is a big part of his life.

And the Cheltenham Youth League isn’t new to either Manning senior or Manning junior because Heart of Gloucester played in the Cheltenham Youth League in 2021/22.

“We played a year up in Division Two of the under-12 division,” Manning senior said. “About six or seven of the team were selected for the Gloucester Primary Schools’ teams and they played on Saturday mornings, which was the same time as the Severn Valley Youth League fixtures.

“The Cheltenham Youth League played on Sundays, so it was a way of keeping the team together.”

Manning said they were always going to switch back to the Severn Valley Youth League this season, even though they had a very good campaign last time out.

“We finished second in Division Two, we did really well, we beat Prestbury Phantoms Broncos who finished above us,” said Manning.

“Because of Covid I never once had a full squad but they’re great kids and good football players.”

Matches are nine-a-side and Manning plays a 3-4-1 formation, although he is keen not to over-complicate things too much.

“Most importantly, I want the players to enjoy themselves,” he said.