Kwan Browne has set himself a two-year goal of getting East Grinstead back into the top flight of English hockey.

The summer appointment of the Trinidad and Tobago international captain as Grinstead's new player-coach has sent a wave of expectation through the club ahead of Sunday's National League division two opener away to Barford Tigers.

Browne's pedigree as a player is undoubted. He has won 136 caps for Trinidad after making his debut at 15, netted 17 goals in five games for his country during this summer's Pan-Am Games and two years ago was voted the English Hockey League's player-of-the-season while playing for Canterbury.

Now Browne's credentials as a coach will be put to the test and he is relishing the task ahead.

Browne, who has joined Grinstead from premier division side Canterbury after relocating to Crawley, said: "At the end of the season, when I knew I wasn't going to be playing for Canterbury, I asked around for clubs looking for coaches but I didn't think a club like East Grinstead in this division would ask me to do this job.

"I was honoured and I jumped at it. It is a great opportunity for me.

"The club's ambition was one of the more appealing things. They have the facilities here so the only thing that is keeping them out of the higher leagues is probably a little bit of direction.

"I know it might sound like rushing stuff but I am hoping we will definitely get promoted this season and the following season I think we have the ability to get promoted again. So, in two years' time, I am hoping we can be back in the top division."

Browne, 25, has brought two international colleagues with him. Dwain Kuanchan has already joined the club while Dilette Gilkes will be available as soon as he has sorted out his visa.

Other new faces include Mark Ansell and John Fitzpatrick but the team will mainly be made up of last year's squad. England under-16 player Ashley Jackson is set to feature prominently after impressing in practice games.

Pre-season results have been good, including an impressive 7-4 defeat of first division title hopefuls Southgate Browne, who replaced Ian Pattison as player-coach said: "Although we have some new players coming in, what we have already is more than enough to get promoted. The players have made it extremely easy for me.

"I don't know if it is because I have played against them and they respect me for my ability but they have definitely responded well.

"The training has been good. The pre-season has gone excellently and I am just hoping we can keep that going until the end of the season."

Lewes, who start at home to Hounslow and Ealing on Sunday, also have a new player-coach in the shape of Renwick Irvine.

Irvine has played for Hampstead and Westminster for the last two years and is among a number of changes at Lewes, who battled with relegation for much of last season.

Ryan Standing has taken over as captain, with Will Champness moving up to become club captain.

Former England under-21 player Alistair Boyse has been persuaded to play again after two years out of the game while other new faces include Simon Letchford, Wayne Bennett and Paul Coltham.

Three players have left. Tim Garner is now working abroad, Jon Hooker has joined the Army and Tad Mullany has gone to university.

Manager Paul Benoy said: "With two or three good new additions we are hoping to have a better season."

East Grinstead: Dakin, Harms, Male, J. Payne, Sullivan, Pine, B. Payne, Browne, Kuanchan, Howarth, Jackson, Ansell, Fitzpatrick, Akande, King, R. Payne.

Lewes: Bone, Coltham, Bettesworth, Champness, Standing, Letchford, Ibbotson, Irvine, van Tromp, Poulsen, Boyse, Wright, Hurle, Achterbergh, Pike, Bennett, Parker.