AN unbeaten run of eight games has seen them catapult themselves in among the Cheshire Football League’s big-hitters.

However, Eagle Sports are not allowing themselves to dream of title glory just yet.

The Great Sankey club’s stunning recent form has seen them soar up to third in the Premier Division table – just three points behind leaders Middlewich Town having played two games less.

And so, after three seasons of finishing in mid-table, are Eagle ready to challenge for the Cheshire League title again, just as they did regularly in the early to mid-2010s?

“Everybody is in it to win it and you always want to be in the mix,” co-manager Rob Hope said.

“Come January, we still want to be in that mix.

“In the past, we’ve been right in there but we generally fall behind on games and have to play catch-up.

“We’re hoping the weather stays good so that we stay on track with games, but we’re just happy to be up there at the minute.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve surprised ourselves. We’ve been rebuilding over the past couple of years.

“We had good success a few years ago and the squad is getting a bit older, but there are a few good young kids coming through.

“The first month or so was a bit indifferent, but in the past seven or eight games the quality has been there and we’re still improving.

“We knew the quality was there, but it’s coming through nicely now.”

Rob Hope, right, alongside fellow Eagle co-manager Mark Boardman. Picture by Simon Hancock

Eagle reaffirmed their status as the one of the division’s in-form team by thrashing Billinge 4-0 at Thornton Road on Saturday.

But what is the secret that has taken them from mid-table back to challenging for trophies?

“The competition within the squad is very strong,” Hope said.

“We’ve got a good five on the bench every week, any of whom could easily start.

“It means we’re able to rotate every now and then and nobody complains because the squad is that strong.

“Everyone is on their toes and is having to work hard to keep their spots.

“We’ve not really had an out-and-out centre forward who has played a lot of the games.

“Chris Quirk has been injured, and so has Josh Purcell, while Ged McAllister has been in and out.

“We’re not relying on one person to bang the goals in, so it’s a fairly good spread.

“Liam Marlow has come in from Burtonwood and having him as a solid keeper every week has helped. We’ve not had that in the past few years.”

Hope, who picks the team alongside Mark Boardman, first took on the manager’s role at Thornton Road 10 years ago and combined it with his playing duties.

A brief stint at Barnton broke up his time managing a club for whom he made a playing debut at the age of 15.

“This club means a lot to me,” he said.

“We don’t pay players like other clubs in the league do. We base ourselves on spirit and camaraderie.

“Once people come in, they generally love Eagle and stay at Eagle.

“Winning games obviously helps with that atmosphere around the place and the place is buzzing at the minute, everyone is full of confidence.”

Eagle will aim to extend their unbeaten run to nine league matches when they visit Egerton on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.