READING Hockey Club have appointed a new head coach for their women’s section, with Olympian Joanne Ellis replacing Mike Irving.

During her playing career, she was part of the England team which won bronze at both the European Championships in Manchester and the Champions Challenge in Baku and played for Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Born in Leeds, the 35-year-old now plays for with England Masters squad.

Reading HC captain Fran Harvey said: “Jo will bring huge knowledge and experience to our performance group and I am looking forward to an exciting and successful season ahead.”

Ellis will be supported by Shenarda Dedic, while coach Steve Hardy will continue to support the performance group while also heading up the second-team squad.

Irving has left Reading to become the ladies’ first-team coach with KHC Brugge, describing them as an "incredibly exciting club who are forward thinking and progressive."

Reading open their Investec League Conference West campaign on Saturday, September 29 when they host Swansea at Sonning Lane, the sides having finished second and fourth respectively last season.

A week later, they travel to Stourport, who topped the table, one point better off than Blues, but lost all three games in the promotion play-offs.

Reading Men start their Premier Division season with two home games, hosting Hampstead & Westminster on Sunday, September 30, followed by Brooklands Manchester University a week later.

Peter Scott, part of the England and GB squad with three caps to his name, has rejoined the club from Bath Buccaneers,while Max Heaver is returning from University of Exeter and Danny Newcombe, assistant to the Welsh International team, is joining the club’s team of coaches.