Mavs’ shock promotion

American football

East Kent Mavericks have been handed a shock promotion after a reshuffle in the British American Football Association structure on the eve of the new season. The Mavericks – based at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys – have narrowly missed out on promotion from Southern Conference Division 2 South in the past two seasons. However, after a league restructure just three months before the big kick-off, they have been elevated to Southern Conference Division 1 East. Head coach Glenn Lindley said: “The promotion was a shock. Having narrowly missed out on winning the Division 2 Championship in the last two seasons, we were looking forward to putting together an undefeated season and earning our promotion to Division 1. “We now have to prepare for a tougher level of competition with just three months to get ready. “We are confident we will do well at the higher level but it may take a season or two to adjust before we claim our next Championship.” The promotion means the Mavs will face off during the regular season against old foes the Kent Exiles, based in south east London, plus the London Hornets, Colchester Gladiators, Cambridgeshire Cats and the Wembley Stallions, who pipped them to the title last season. The first action of the new campaign is a pre-season scrimmage against Hastings Conquerors on Sunday, March 4 while the Essex Spartans head to Canterbury the following Sunday for the opening preseason game. Further home fixtures follow against Hastings (March 18) and Maidstone Pumas (March 25) while in coming weeks the club will be running recruitment days for potential new talent in Ashford, Folkestone and Thanet. For more details, search for the East Kent Mavericks on Facebook or visit www.ekmavericks.co.uk