EAST Essex Sabres have been accepted into the British American Football Association League just two years after being established.

The Sabres, who were founded in 2015, were denied entry to the league last year, as the British American Football Association League felt the Southend based team needed to compete in more games before being considered.

But, after featuring in a host of fixtures in 2016, the Sabres have been given the green light to move into the SFC West division.

The Sabres will take on East Kent Mavericks, Wembley Stallions, London Blitz B, Essex Spartans and Ipswich Cardinals.

Russ Hewitt, the British American Football Association Director of Competitions, confirmed the Sabres’ promotion to the hotly-contested division.

Nearly 20 teams applied to join the country’s leading divisions, but only six sides - including the Sabres - had their applications approved.

Lee Joseph, the Sabres’ head coach, was delighted when he heard the news.

Joseph said: “I am very proud of all the coaches and players’ hard work and I am really stoked to play in the British American Football Association League. I can’t wait to get going now.

“There are a lot of people behind the scenes that work tirelessly.

“One of those is Tim Lewis, our team sponsor, who has spent a lot of time and energy pushing this amazing team forward.”

The head coach has been a leading figure in the sport across Essex.

Joseph, 54, joined the newly-formed Colchester Gladiators in 1983, before creating the Southend Sabres.

Having left the Sabres a year later, Joseph established the Basildon Colts, where he played at quarterback and had stints as head coach and offensive co-ordinator.

Joseph, who combines his head coaching role with his job as offensive co-ordinator, retired from the game in 1990, but returned to the sport when he agreed to become running backs coach at Essex Spartans in 2015.

But Joseph left the Spartans later that year to create the East Essex Sabres.

Assistant player coach Kirk Beacham, who was heavily involved with the original Southend Sabres, has admitted that he is delighted to see Joseph’s side back among the country’s elite.

Beacham added: “I first started with the Sabres in 1992, when I was 12.

“When we had to fold in 2005, it broke my heart so to be a part of the coaching staff that has brought them back into the league is something that I will always cherish.

“What makes me even more proud is the work everybody has put in to get this done, from the committee to the coaches and especially the players. Not only have they done everything we’ve asked of them, they’ve done so as true Sabres.

“They’re more than a team, they’re family. The Sabres will be a force in this league for many years to come.”

The Sabres, who play their home games at Shoeburyness High School, will get their debut season in the SFC West division underway in April.