Richmond hockey captain Charlie Duffell hopes the club can cap off a remarkable 18 months by sealing promotion to the Premier Division.

After only just staying in the Conference East league last season, Richmond dominated the current campaign.

A fine league triumph saw them progress to the Men’s Hockey League Promotion Tournament – a round-robin event contested between the four champions in the respective divisions.

Despite losing their first game to Canterbury last weekend, Richmond can still book a place in the coveted Premier Division with victories over Loughborough Students and Cardiff.

“It would be fantastic – given where we have come from as a side, it would be unbelievable really,” Duffell said.

“Last year we stayed up on the last game of the season so to win the league and then go up through the play-offs would be quite a story.”

The club captain was not too downbeat after suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat to Canterbury, insisting that the result does not chance what is required.

He said: “It was disappointing obviously but in many ways it doesn’t change our situation.

“We still have to win two games. It doesn’t really change our position in that sense.”

While Richmond are understandably desperate to win the play-offs, Duffell was keen to point out that the season had been a huge success whatever the result.

“To get promoted to the Premier Division would be huge, there’s no hiding that,” he added.

“But even if we don’t it would have been a great season and one to take a lot of positives from.

“We’ve improved a lot and credit goes to the club, the coaches, the players and everyone who supports us.”