Essex Spartans are preparing for the 2013 season

American football squad looking forward to season

Essex Spartans American football team have announced details of their 2013 campaign, with some mouth-watering clashes against old rivals as the team looks for glory in the National League.

After a forgetful 2012 campaign, the Billericay-based Spartans were unable to hold on to their spot in the upper tier and find themselves competing against some familiar faces from two years ago.

The Spartans will face off against the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, Kent Exiles, Milton Keynes Pathfinders, Maidstone Pumas, Watford Cheetahs and Colchester Gladiators in the South Central Conference, with their season running from April until August.

Games between the Spartans and the Exiles have always been tight affairs, and in 2013 the teams will battle it out in the first annual Rivalry game under the floodlights at Hannakins Farm on April 27 (7pm).

Another must-see match is the 20th Anniversary game between the Spartans and their old foes the Colchester Gladiators.

The teams first met in 1993 and compete this year in another Saturday Night Lights spectacle for The Essex Bowl on June 29.

“The schedule this season should be quite exciting if past experience is anything to go by, with all but one of the teams being the same we faced in 2011 prior to promotion,” said Spartans head coach Marc Saunders.

“Games against the Exiles are always exciting and usually end up being a close result. Many of the Spartans including myself will also be looking forward to our first home game to take place on a Saturday evening making the Exiles match-up one to see!”

Fixtures (home matches in capitals): Bedfordshire (April 14); KENT (April 27, 7pm); MILTON KEYNES (May 5, 2.30pm); Kent (June 2); MAIDSTONE (June 9, 2.30pm); COLCHESTER (June 29, 7pm); Watford (July 13); Milton Keynes (August 3); Colchester (August 11); BEDFORDSHIRE (August 18, 2.30pm).