The First XI have never had it so good after a start of six wins from seven games has lifted them three points clear at the top of Midlands League One. It's their first season at this level for two years and they have never been higher.

But Eden, in his first full season at Melton since joining from Leicester Thursday HC, wants to see his team guarantee their safety in this league before thinking of an historic promotion to Midlands Premier.

This would put Melton just two tiers below the National Premier League.

He said: "We are doing a lot better than we expected and probably better than other teams expected too.

"But at this level the second half of the season is always harder than the first because teams have the infrastructure to assess how you play and come up with a strategy of how to play us.

"Four teams get relegated from this league, sometimes five, and last year a team went down on 25 points so our first target to get to will be the 25-point mark.

"But if we are where we are now at Christmas I can't see why we can't push for promotion."

It has been a golden season so far for the whole club with each of its five men's teams in the top halves of their respective leagues, while the ladies' first team are unbeaten and lie second in the county's premier division.

Eden applauded the team spirit and the feelgood factor which he believes are major contributors to their stellar start: "Two years ago we didn't do ourselves justice in this division, but now everyone turns up each week with a will to win and brings the right frame of mind into every game.

"Having a strong second team has helped to push the first team players to play at their best. And if the first team are winning the confidence exudes throughout the rest of the club."

As well as a couple of new players Melton were also bolstered by new coach Steve Saffhill. He picked up the reins to allow Danny Willcock to concentrate on playing.

Willcock, who now restricts his coaching to the ladies' first XI, has revelled in the new freedom and heads the club's goalscoring charts with 13 in all competitions.

He said: "Having Steve on the sidelines during matches and taking training has helped considerably.

"Everyone can't wait for the next game, we can't get enough hockey.

"If we get promoted there would only be one division between us and the national premier so the standard is very high.

"The club as a whole is in a fantastic position."