Netballers from Railway Institute have won the York and District Netball League after going unbeaten all season - 12 months after losing their grip on the trophy for the first time in 30 years.

RI won the league every year since its inception - a staggering 29 times - as Civil Service but lost it for the first time last season to Haxby after a turbulent season that had already seen them lose their Civil Service headquarters.

York Railway Institute stepped in over the summer with an offer of a new home at their New Lane site and put up roughly two-thirds of the £55,000 needed to build two brand new floodlit courts.

The renowned Civil Service banner of 30 years' standing was swapped for RI and the transformation was complete.

Less than six months later, the club have regained their York and District League supremacy after going unbeaten to claim back the trophy they lost to Haxby last year.

First team captain Briz Mennell said: "You can't imagine how nice it is to have a home again. Last year, we were always trying to find free courts and free nights to play on.

"We didn't even have a home night and there were a lot of last-minute phone calls that led to a number of mix-ups with players going to the wrong court at the wrong time.

"It was a nightmare.

"But now we have come back and it has definitely helped us being made to feel welcome at RI.

"We owe a lot to Sean Heslop and Alan Warriner, the chairman and vice-chairman. It's been a huge joint effort between us and them and various committees but I think it's fair to say without them we wouldn't be here."

The playing side of the club has also been lifted by the return of four first-teamers sidelined by pregnancy last time out.

But despite an unblemished record, Mennell, who has played for the club for more than 20 years, insists it was not easy.

She said: "We have had some really good games. Haxby deservedly won it last year and finished second this time. They were only beaten by us and won every other game they had.

"There was a time when we used to find the York and District League too easy but teams have got better and you can no longer go out expecting to win - you have to really work your socks off."

Plans are now being mooted to make the site into a netball centre of excellence for the north which would see another three floodlit courts added, changing facilities upgraded and staging major regional competitions.

The current courts can be hired out and are available free of charge to schools.

For now, the priority is to consolidate the foundations laid down so far with a new young team entered into the league next term to nurture the next generation.

Updated: 09:32 Monday, March 28, 2005