Martyn Thomas has been involved with water polo in Cheltenham for more than 50 years and he says the current success that the club are enjoying is unprecedented in their 130-year-plus history.

That’s because they have clinched their fourth British Men’s Super 5s League title in six years and are hoping to wrap up a league and cup double by winning the British Championship at the end of May.

Victory in the British Championship – the equivalent of football’s FA Cup – would be particularly sweet as the final stages of this season’s competition will be held at Sandford Lido in Cheltenham on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27.

The semi-finals of the men’s and women’s championships will be held on the Saturday with the two finals on the Sunday.

Cheltenham have won the Championship three times in the past six years and if they win it again this year it will be the second time they have done the double since their golden period began.

Thomas, who is director of coaching of the water polo section at Cheltenham Swimming and Water Polo Club, said: “It’s remarkable what they’ve achieved. You can’t underestimate what they’ve done.

“To keep going as they have done, all the training – it’s an amazing feat. They’re young professionals with young families and people don’t realise the time, effort and commitment that is needed, not to mention the amount of travelling and the money it costs them.

“To stay at the level they have done is incredible.”

Cheltenham have seen off the challenge of perennial rivals Lancaster to win the league this season although Bristol, another side who have been there or thereabouts in recent seasons, have struggled this campaign as age has started to catch up with them.

Cheltenham are determined not to suffer like Bristol and have introduced a number of youngsters who have come through their junior set-up such as Rudi and Jake Polster and Will Rayson.

It has not always been success all the way for the club, however. Before their current purple patch they had endured a barren spell and their previous title win had come in the 1990s.

Thomas, 68, helped Cheltenham complete the league and double when he was a player back in the day but added: “We didn’t have the success over the length of time that this team have. That’s why I think this team are the best.”

And Thomas insists that the club – the biggest water polo club in the country – are the most successful of any sport in the county. “What other club in Gloucestershire have had the success at national level that we’ve had?” he asked.