TALENTED hockey player David Clarkson is so chuffed with his new kit that he has started wearing it around the house.

The 16-year-old goalie was presented with his new kit at Firthmoor Community Centre, in Darlington, which agreed to sponsor him after he approached them.

David, of Lanethorpe Road, Darlington, has been playing with old hockey equipment for the past year, and tried numerous sports shops and companies for sponsorship before the community centre agreed to help.

His kit, which cost almost £1,000, includes pads, a stick, Astroturf boots and a strip.

It would seem that the centre's investment is worthwhile, because David has already played in his club's first team, just a year after taking up the sport.

David, a student at Carmel College, said: "It was pure chance that I took up the sport, because I filled in for my school team, and was then asked if I wanted to go along to training at Darlington Hockey Club.

"I started in the third team, then played in the second team, and I was recently given the chance to play a game for the first team, which we won. I'm hooked on the sport now."

He is looking forward to trying out the kit in a match against Newcastle University on Saturday.

He said: "I'm already wearing it in and I'll be wearing it around the house to make sure it's ready for the weekend."