Cheltenham United are only in their seventh season but they are one of those clubs who have experienced plenty in their relatively short existence.

The Cheltenham League club have enjoyed three promotions, a cup final win and this season have enjoyed a great run in the Gloucestershire FA Primary North Cup.

They’ve also suffered a relegation as well so know all about the highs and lows of football, but this season it’s fair to say that they have been very much on a winning roll.

They have been flying high in Division Four from the moment the current campaign kicked off and player/manager Kris Mohan couldn’t be happier.

“We’ve signed some good young players this season to add to an already strong group of players” he said. “We’ve got quite a big squad – 22 players signed on - each of them wanting to play every week. The biggest problem I have is picking a matchday squad.”

The club were founded in 2012, starting life in Division Six of the Cheltenham League.

“We won back-to-back promotions in 2014/15 and 2015/16,” said Mohan. “We also won the Cheltenham League Minor Charity Cup in 2015, when we beat Malvern Vale 8-0 in the final.”

That final was played on the artificial grass pitch at All Saints Academy, which just happens to be where Cheltenham United play their home games.

Mohan, who took over as player/manager at the start of the 2016/17 season after joining the club as a player some three years earlier, enjoys the playing surface at All Saints “because it allows us to play good football”.   

He is also enjoying his role at Cheltenham United, where in addition to being player/boss he is the club’s secretary.

“I took over at a time where our future as a club had a bit of uncertainty. It would have been a real shame for those of us loyal to the club if we had disbanded,” said the 28-year-old. “But I’m really enjoying it now,” before adding with a laugh, “I’m the first name on the teamsheet!”

Last season was tougher for Cheltenham United. They were relegated from Division Three although they certainly didn’t go down without a fight.

“It was a very strong division with teams like St Paul’s and Renegades,” added Mohan.

This season has been very different and Mohan hopes the club are laying solid foundations so that they can stride forward in years to come.

“The overall ambition is to go as high as we can,” said Mohan. “On our day we can compete with anyone, it’s a case of believing in ourselves more consistently.

“It would be nice to get into the top division in the Cheltenham League, I think that would be the ultimate goal, but at the moment we are focused on achieving our goals this season first and foremost.”

Despite having plenty of players to call on Cheltenham United field just the one team and it’s likely to remain that way for a while yet.

“We have talked about setting up a second team,” admitted Mohan, “but I quite like the fact that we have only one team. I’ve been part of clubs where there are more than one team and it can become a bit cliquey. When there is just one team everyone is part of the same close-knit group, but we’ll see in the future.”

It clearly is a close-knit group because Mohan estimates that 50 per cent of the team that won the Minor Charities Cup close on four years ago are still very much involved with the club.

That victory was the highlight of Cheltenham United's history so far although Mohan obviously hopes there are many more to come.

For that to happen, free-scoring striker Chris Clavin will have to continue banging in the goals, central midfielder Kieran Clavin will have to keep doing the leg work in midfield, and the likes of Billy Keegan and Harry Evans will have to stay at the top of their game between the sticks and in defence.

“They are a few of our key players, but we have quality in every position,” said Mohan. “We are a great club to be a part of with a good social side as well, they’re all brilliant lads.”

 It appears Cheltenham United are going places on and off the pitch.