Surbiton will have all five of their European gold medal winners on board for their first fixture of the country’s elite National Premier Division season against Bowden in Cheshire on Sunday afternoon.

It will be for the first time since England’s triumphant 18-man squad lifted the European Cup with a thrilling 5-3 victory over world number ones Germany in Amsterdam at the end of August.

But three of them – Ben Hawes, Rob Moore and James Tindall - did play when the Long Ditton club, who finished fifth last season, completed their preparations for the new campaign with an away win by the odd goal in three over runners-up Reading last weekend.

With England squad mate Matt Daly having turned out in Surbiton’s 5-2 penultimate pre-season friendly home win over newly promoted University of Exeter the previous Saturday, only Richard Alexander of the famous five has not turned out since Amsterdam.

After Reading had led 1-0 at half-time from a 10th-minute penalty corner, Alberto Esteban, one of two new Spanish signings, equalised two minutes into the second half and then, six minutes later, captain Tim Pinnock dragflicked from a penalty corner what proved the winner.

Other new signings for Surbiton who played were Alejandro Inglesias (another Spaniard from Club de Campo), Mike Houlihan from Southgate, Joseph (Sam) Middleton from Bournville and goalkeeper Chris Bristow from Havant.

This season, the top five Premier League clubs will compete in a newly instituted post-season play-off competition to determine the three Euro League places on offer.

Surbiton start their quest to qualify for this against a club who finished eighth last season, just avoiding the relegation play-offs and losing twice to their visitors, 4-5 away at Sugden Road and 1-4 at home.

Meantime, Surbiton Ladies first XI have another week of practice before their season promoted into the South Clubs’ Women’s Hockey League Division One, two promotions off national premier status.

Last Saturday, they failed to recover from conceding two goals in the first nine minutes, going down to a disappointing 2-3 friendly defeat away to SCWHL Division Two side, Teddington at Teddington School.

Missing five of the players who played in the 4-1 win at fellow SCWHL Division One Epsom the previous week, including three of the goalscorers - Emma Jones, Sian Craze and Helen Grant – Surbiton’s scorers were Minnie James (penalty corner) and Lizzie Sedgman (open play).

Surbiton complete their pre-season programme next week with two evening matches: on Wednesday against Teddington, at St George’s College, Weybridge; and on Friday at Sugden Road, against opposition to be confirmed. Both matches are scheduled to start at 8pm.