A majority of the existing 11 Horsham District league clubs and eight board members voted in favour of Kaniva-Leeor United's application to join the league at a special meeting on Thursday night.

A 75 per cent majority was required for the move to be approved.

AFL Wimmera Mallee area manager Jason Muldoon said voting parties were sympathetic to the club's position, as they move from the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara league.

"Everyone understood that Kaniva-Leeor wanted to come to the Horsham District league for reasons that were out of their control," Mr Muldoon said.

"The majority of the clubs took that on board, and the prevailing feeling was that the right thing to do for football and the community was to accept them.

"On behalf of AFL Victoria and AFL Wimmera-Mallee, we welcome Kaniva-Leeor United into the region and we look forward to working with them and having a long association with the club."

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Horsham District league chairman Fred Mellington said there was some excitement in welcoming a 12th club.

"There's certainly strength in numbers, and I believe it's a feather in our cap that clubs are wanting to join our league - we must be doing something right," he said.

"We are more than happy to welcome Kaniva-Leeor into the league, and we're looking forward to a new and exciting chapter in the league's history."

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