Canterbury Hockey Club captain Matt Harper is standing down after four years.

He confirmed the news at the annual supper at Polo Farm, attended by around 150 members with Minister for Sport and the Olympics and Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson guest of honour.

School teacher Harper (pictured) suffered badly with injuries this season, breaking a rib and then his cheekbone and eye socket in three places in a training accident in March.

He said: "I don’t think I can continue to give the high level of commitment. Although we were relegated, I feel the team is still in a good position and have the structures in place for somebody else to lead."

The search for Harper’s successor will begin shortly as the club plan ahead for the return to Men’s Conference East.

Canterbury were relegated at the end of Harper’s first year, then pipped to immediate promotion the following year before going up last year – only to lose in the promotion play-off at Cannock last month.

Harper said: "The first year was hard because we struggled with coaches and didn’t have any structure in place.

"The second year was a time for rebuilding and we weren’t quite ready to go up then but did so the following year and got stronger in what was Kwan Browne’s first year.

"We didn’t have much luck this season with up to 10 players injured."