Sabres American football club are hoping their status as one of the game's true survivors will stand them in good stead during a make-or-break season for the sport in this country.

The Southend-based team, who kick off the new League season at Norwich Devils on Sunday, are one of the oldest clubs still playing in the British Senior League.

But while the Sabres have flourished, hundreds of other teams have fallen by the wayside. There were around 330 teams nationally at the zenith of the sport's popularity but that number has now dwindled to 28 as youngsters are attracted elsewhere.

This year's British Senior League season has been cut from ten games to eight because there aren't enough referees to go round, with teams alternating weeks off to spread out the games for overworked officials.

Sabres themselves admit it is tough going to continue. Even a successful side like they are have been left with a playing squad of just 25 veterans and youngsters this season.

But they continue to survive thanks to the youth policy they started in 1988. The club's junior team won national titles in 1991 and 1992 and have all progressed to form the basis of the squad which is about to embark on the season.

Head coach Dave Barham, a former running-back, says: "Media coverage at national level is declining and kids are being drawn away to other sports - especially basketball - and computers. Channel 4 dropping the sport has also hit us hard.

"But we've survived because of our youth policy we started in the late 80s. The players that come through then are the basis of our team now and we're reaping the benefits."

Team chairman Hugh Cumberland believes the darkest days are over and says: "We've hit the bottom of the declining curve now and the number of teams has levelled out. With university teams going strong the sport's future is healthy."

The team's efforts locally haven't been helped by the financial outlay involved. It can cost up to £3000 for a team to hire a pitch for four matches and one local side was forced to move their home matches to London for that reason.

Sabres remain as the only south-east Essex-based team and are hopeful they can enjoy another successful term this year. They reached the League semi-finals last season and have been seeded to win Division Two of the British Senior League.

The game against Norwich will be tough because their opponents will be out to prove a point after relegation last season. But training has gone well and coach Barham is hopeful.

He said: "Some of the lads have had trouble getting to training due to other commitments, but when it comes time to get down and dirty they'll come good. I'm confident we can finish first, although the Norwich game itself will be a bit cagey."

The club's challenge will once again be led by veteran running back Greg Crease, who has been with the club since 1986. Greg played the sport in America in his youth and has been the leading player for a number of years.

On the attack - the Sabres get stuck into training as they prepare for this Sunday's opening league game against their close rivals, the Norwich Devils

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.