NETBALL players can be recognised by the initials they wear on their shirts. For example WD is Wing Defence, GA is Goal Attack and GK is goalkeeper and so on.

However, you don't see the letters LC and LS emblazon across the shirts of Linda Moores and Sharon Doney -- then again there is no need as everybody knows the League Chairman and League Secretary of the successful Burnley Netball League.

The best of mates have been something of a dream team since taking over the reigns of the league back in 1995.

For back then, the league had just 16 teams in two divisions. Today, it has 40 teams in five divisions making it one of the biggest in East Lancashire -- only the Blackburn and District League can rival it in size.

It was hardly an overnight success -- more of slow, steady build-up -- but now the league simply cannot get any bigger.

Linda may now be the chairman of the league and is happy to come up with new ideas but it was a different story back in 1995.

Sharon, who joined the league committee as treasurer in 1993, said: "I had something of a big mouth back then so when they were looking for somebody to take over I said I would do it and so would Linda."

"And I wasn't even there," added Linda.

The pair first met back in 1980 through their husbands.

And both realised they had something in common. Not only was it they were both mothers of three children, they had played netball and were itching to get back in to it.

So when the Burnley Netball League was formed in 1992, they didn't need a second invitation and the pair joined Towneley netball team.

From that moment Ian Doney and Steve Moores became netball widowers!

"I've got to say our husbands have been fantastic," said Sharon. "They are both sports fans themselves so they understand. When Linda phones, Ian hands the phone over and says it's netball again!"

When Sharon and Linda took sole control of the league they launched a campaign to recruit new players to the league.

"We targeted local businesses and it was very successful," added Sharon. "Ladies wanted to get involved and their bosses were sponsoring the team."

But the pair realised there was a need to attract young players to the league.

Linda said: "The majority of the league were made up of players who were of a similar age to us. Players who had stopped to raise a family but came back after a few years."

With the need to recruit young blood in mind, Sharon and Linda formed a school league -- and while it wasn't altogether successful the seed had been sown.

Sharon said: "The school league was a good idea but because it was out of school, it heaped more responsibility on teachers. But it did show us that youngsters wanted to get involved in netball."

A summer skills coaching course -- along the lines of football courses held for the boys -- followed which was a big hit.

"We knew from our own sons that the football coaching courses were popular with the boys so we decided why not try a similar idea with netball for the girls. And it worked."

However, what followed was probably one of the most significant moments in the league's short career under the guidance of Linda and Sharon.

For in 1998 the Burnley Netball League formed a School of Excellence -- the first of its kind in East Lancashire.

Sharon added: "No other clubs or leagues in the area had started a school of excellence so we decided to give it a go. This gave us an opportunity to pick up and work with the cream of the crop."

"The School of Excellence has really taken off," added Linda the coaching brains behind the junior set-up. "We know have six junior teams, with players representing Lancashire and England. As you can imagine we are delighted."

Proud words from Linda the coach and Linda the mother as her 14-year-old twins Danielle and Shrona are in the Lancashire under 16s squad and the England High Performance Talent squad.

Not to be outdone, Sharon's daughter Becky, 12, is in the Lancashire under 14s development squad. Not bad for two women who, at first, doubted their own coaching skills.

Sharon said: "When we first started the School of Excellence, we used to employ former Great Britain player Marion Lofthouse and current player Anna Newell to coach the youngsters.

"They kept on telling us that we were good enough to coach them and in the end that is exactly what we did."

From setting up the School of Excellence, the pair also helped form Burnley Netball Club who entered two teams in to the Lancashire Youth League not really knowing what to expect.

Burnley ended up winning the under 10s league and finished runners-up in the under 11s.

"We blew them away," said Linda proudly. "And we would have done the double had we not had points deducted for turning up late to a game."

It wasn't only the opposition the were blown away as in 1999, Sharon and Linda were awarded a services to the community for junior sports award for all their hard work.

Apart from competing in the Lancashire Youth League the club travels across the country taking part in a series of competition.

"Some weeks, it can take up all your time," said Linda. "Whether it is running the league, training the girls or taking them away to competitions."

But Sharon and Linda wouldn't have it any other way and together have built up a success little club.

The under 16s squad have qualified for the National Netball finals for the past two years -- reaching the quarter finals in 2000 and the semi finals last year.

"We're aiming to go one better this year," said Sharon confidently. "We can make the final."

The pair admit the league cannot really get much bigger but their real dream lie with the School of Excellence and what stars they can produce for the national sides of tomorrow.

"We already have players representing Lancashire and England at junior level. But to get a player in to the full England team would be the ultimate aim."

And Linda and Sharon have a habit of fulfilling their dreams.