‘The Only Way Is Up’ was a big hit single for a group called Yazz in the late 1980s and if it was re-released over the next few weeks it would be the ideal signature tune for Painswick Rugby Club this season.

The club have had some tough times over the past few years and this season are competing in Gloucester Three – the county’s basement division – for the first time.

It’s not so long ago that they were just one game away from playing at Twickenham, losing at the semi-final stage of the National Junior Vase.

But while those days may seem a distant memory, there is plenty of optimism around Broadham Fields that the worst may be behind them.

The signs are encouraging and in new coach Mark Nicholson, they certainly have someone who knows his way around a rugby field.

Nicholson played on the wing for Gloucester in the mid-1990s as well as for Stroud and will work hand-in-hand with the club’s new matchday manager Ian Hogg.

And there should be very few teething problems for the two of them because they know each other well from Marling School where Nicholson is head of PE and Hogg is the school’s groundsman.

“I just asked him if he’d do it and he said yes,” said Hogg.

Hogg is very well known on the sporting circuit in and around Painswick, and is also a big noise in the cricket club.

He has recently rejoined the rugby club’s committee and said of Nicholson: “He knows his stuff. He coached at Widden OBs with Dave Spencer and he’s also been involved in the county youth set-up.

“He’ll be assisted by forwards coach Richard Churchill, who is a former Painswick player, and we hope to get a 2nd XV out at some stage this season. We’ve certainly got more players now than we had before.”

The new players will be led by fly-half Craig Mayo, who was also captain last season.

Hogg is also hoping that “big John Bevan” can have a good campaign. “He’s a second row and used to play rugby league for Featherstone Rovers,” said Hogg. “He’s a good lad. Prop Chris Tandy is another big player for us and in the backs Neil Churchill and Sam Andrews are very important.”

On and off the pitch, things could finally be moving in the right direction for Painswick Rugby Club.