Kwan Browne’s achievement in steering Canterbury Hockey Club’s men into the top three of the EHL Premier Division in their first season after promotion was this week rewarded with a national honour.

The Trinidadian was named Perkins Slade Performance Coach of the Year for 2012-13 in the England Hockey Board’s annual awards last Friday.

Browne, who also guided Canterbury to the national indoor finals, said: "It's nice to receive the award. I had no idea if I'd win it.

"We were newly-promoted and finished third in the league and won the indoor competition, but you never know because Beeston won the league and the play-offs and did well in Europe.

"Coaching at Canterbury is easy for me because all I have to do is coach, the support staff and everyone at the club is brilliant.

"We never have problems with players not turning up or big players deciding they don't want to play, like some clubs. We set quite high standards and we get full-commitment from our players."

Browne has been coaching the England A senior and under-16 boys teams this summer.