That position, however, does little to disguise the quality within the Gloucester squad. A first home league win against Hanwell United offered encouragement, but consistency has proved difficult to find during the opening weeks.

Gloucester’s most recent league outing ended in a 5-2 defeat at Malvern Town, despite the Tigers taking the lead, with a red card helping to change the course of the contest. Their cup form has offered a different picture, with Gloucester recording an FA Cup victory away to National League South opposition AFC Totton before an impressive 4-0 FA Trophy win over Stafford Rangers.

There is also plenty of recent history between the sides. Over the last two seasons, the home side has taken maximum points in each meeting. Last season, a depleted Parkway side under interim manager Stuart Dudley suffered a 3-0 defeat, with Joe Hanks and Kane Simpson striking in the first half. Earlier in that campaign, however, Parkway had taken the points at Bolitho Park thanks to Jake Smith’s last-minute winner in Matchday 3.

There was an extraordinary meeting at Bolitho in December 2024 too, when Mitch Beardmore scored all six goals as Parkway claimed a 6-0 victory.