Smiths Barometrics are winning games, they’re scoring goals for fun and they are playing with smiles on their faces.

They’ve won eight and drawn one of their nine games in Northern Senior League Division Two and are four points clear of their nearest rivals.

They’ve scored 35 goals in the last five games – 30 in the last four – and have just won 8-0 at Fintan.

The goals have really flowed since they drew 0-0 at second-placed Hardwicke at the end of August and their remarkable form is all the more impressive because it’s come on the back of a very difficult 2024/25 campaign, one that saw them finish well adrift at the bottom of Division One of the Northern Senior League.

“We nearly folded last year,” admitted long-serving centre-half Dave Ramage, who is also the club’s secretary.

“Five or six of us dragged us through. We lost half our team at the start of last season but we stuck at it and we’re reaping the benefits now.”

They certainly are. New manager Craig Hopkins, who won the Cheltenham League Premier Division with Fintan last season, has brought a number of those title winners with him and he’s ambitious.

“The short-term goal is to get promoted this season and hopefully have a decent cup run,” he said. 

“The long-term goal would be to reach the County League within the next three seasons.”

Ramage, who is 38, has been impressed by Hopkins, who plays 4-3-3 with two wingers and a 10.

“Tactically, he’s switched on,” said Ramage who first started playing for Smiths Athletic when he was 19 in the days before they merged with Barometrics.

“He keeps it simple, you don’t need to complicate things at this level. He’s quite calm but he’ll let you know in the changing room if he’s not happy with something. He’s a motivator, he’s doing a really good job.”

Having good players with a good attitude helps, of course.

“We’ve got a big, hungry squad who are willing to compete for their places,”  said Hopkins, who is assisted by Jake Wilkes.

“The attitude and quality has been top drawer from the lads but we know that needs to continue for us to achieve what we want.

“We’ve started well due to a long and hard pre-season which certainly shows in the second half of games.”

The stats back that up because they scored six second-half goals in a 7-0 win over Kings Stanley, four after the break in the 6-2 victory over Painswick and another four in the final 45 minutes in a 5-2 success over Frampton United Reserves.

The goals have been shared around, too, although Sam Green, Liam Dix and Riley Woodman have been the chief beneficiaries of the club’s resurgence this season.

Green has scored 10 in his last three games after a slow start to the campaign and Ramage said: “He’s a strong centre-forward who leads the line and is great at linking the play, he has finally found his goalscoring boots!”

And he’s not the only one making an impression at a club who play their home games at Kayte Lane, home of  Bishop’s Cleeve.

“Riley Woodman is an attacking midfielder with a great pass and eye for a goal, technically one of the best players at the club,” continued Ramage.

“Ben Tunnicliff is an experienced centre-back who has played at a higher level for clubs including Cheltenham Saracens, Slimbridge and Bishop’s Cleeve.

“Dec O’Shea is another ex-Saracens player, he’s a box-to-box midfielder who doesn’t stop running and has added goals to his game.”

O’Shea plays alongside skipper Declan Chick in the middle of the park and Ramage added: “Declan is the playmaker who controls games. He’s a great passer and team player, he’s arguably the first name on the teamsheet.”

And while the players on the pitch are certainly doing the business, they have plenty of support off it.

They include treasurer Peter Dimmock who organises the monthly Barosball draw which brings valuable income to the club. 

“People like him and kitman Mike Bell, who does loads to support the manager, are so important,” said Ramage.

“I also want to give a special mention to Jerry Power, our long-standing supporter who recently turned 80.

“He comes to all our games, home and away, he’s an absolute legend.”

Power will be at Brockworth Albion on Saturday for Smiths Barometrics' GFA Senior Amateur Cup second-round tie, a game that will give them an indication of how much they have improved this season.

Ramage, an old-fashioned centre-half, is looking forward to playing against a side from Division One of the Northern Senior League.

The one-time Chosen Hill School pupil is still enjoying his football and he’s proud of the fact he’s made the most appearances for Smiths Barometrics since the clubs merged in 2019.

So far he’s played 145 games – Craig Holman is in second place with 122 – and, of course, he played many more for Smiths Athletic.

So how long does he intend to keep on playing?

“I wouldn’t have wanted last season to be my final one,” he said. “If we win the division and get promoted that might be a nice time to draw a line under it.”

The chances are he’s going to have a big decision to make in a few months' time!