NEW skipper Matt Harper leads Canterbury for the first time when they begin their new Slazenger English Hockey League season with a trip to Hampstead & Westminster on Sunday.

Harper takes over from Andy Richardson who has moved away from the area, and is looking forward to the challenge.

The 26-year-old midfielder, a prep school teacher, said: "Trying to finish in the top half of the table is my ultimate goal, and also developing a real team ethos and work ethic in the side.

"We are quite a young side, and have lost a couple of players, with David Mathews and Dan Laslett both moving to Holcombe, but Rob and Chris Pryce are back and Chris Bassano-Harper has also joined us."

Harper cut his hockey teeth at Ashford, skippering them in his last season, before making the step up to Premier Division hockey in 2000.

His appointment co-incides with the arrival of coach New Zealander Darrel Cassidy who moves from Indian Gymkhana, succeeding David Bunyan, now a member of the England coaching set-up.

Canterbury have maintained their Premier Division status by the skin of their teeth over the last few years, surviving last season courtesy of a final day win against Beeston.

They stayed up the year before with a draw at Old Loughtonians, and 12 months earlier won a play off against Bath to stay in the top flight.

Canterbury await fitness checks on Jess Dowsing and Ed Butcher, before they name their starting line-up for Sunday’s trip to north west London.