EAST Lancashire leagues are bucking a national trend despite a Grassroots survey revealing the number of teams that will kick off this year's campaign is slightly down on last season.

For while national figures reveal that local teams have dropped by a quarter in the last three years, local leagues appear to be holding their own.

Figures reveal that out of the 10 senior leagues covered in Grassroots, a total of 37 teams have left their respective leagues since the beginning of last season while 35 new teams will kick off the 2002/03 campaign.

The Burnley Sunday League has been hardest hit with 15 teams leaving since the beginning of last season -- although eight teams did join during the summer months.

And Trinity IDL, who have won the Burnley and District League Premier Division title for the past two seasons, are one of the biggest casualites of the teams that have gone out of existance.

However, the Pendle Charity League has shown the most encouraging signs with eight new teams forming a new division while the Blackburn Combination and Blackburn Sunday League report a full quota of teams.

The report on Radio Five Live revealed that a quarter of teams in the country have dispanded in the last three years blaming lack of facilities as the main problem.

Ken Dean, chairman of the Blackburn Sunday League, said: "Despite the national problems, football in East Lancashire does appear to be pretty strong. Our league for instance always has teams looking to join and I would like to think that has something to do with the high standard of football we produce."

Jack Bottomley is the new fixture secretary of the Burnley Sunday League which has seen the biggest changes -- including Parkside who have gone out of existence after being the league for 30 years.

He said: "It is always a shame to see sides like Parkside fold because they have been around for such a long time. But unfortunately it is a sign of the times.

"It is now my job to come in and steady the league after some many comings and goings in the past year." John Baron, secretary of Accrington Combination side Peel Park, said rising costs is also a reason so many teams have folded. He said: "There was a time then you needed just your kit to get in a league but nowadays a team needs £1,000 before the can consider joining."

BURNLEY SUNDAY

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Royal Hotel, Bridge Inn, Brickmakers, Bacup Borough, Swann, Shakespeare, ISO Bar Junior Clarets, Rosemount.

OUT: Ashworth Arms, Athletico Ighten Leigh, Black Bull, Gloverbrook, Craven Heifer, Colne Clarets, George V, Macaw, Northern Nets, Parkside, Park View, Paradise Island, TSB, Wellington FC, Habergham OB.

CHANGE: Yatefield to Shepherd's Arms, Turf FC to Brunshaw Utd.

INFO: Division One has 10 teams with 12 in Division Two and 11 in Division Three.

KICK OFF: Sunday, September 1.

EAST LANCASHIRE

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Barrowford YCW, Ribble Valley Borough, Whalley Con

OUT: Mill Hill St Peters, Michelin, Earby Town Reserves

CHANGE: No change

INFO: Division One has 12 teams with 13 in Division Two and Reserve Division.

KICK OFF: Saturday, August 24

BLACKBURN & DISTRICT

FOOTBALL COMBINATION

IN: Gilbraith Transport Services, Islington Boys, Witton Albion Reserves

OUT: None

CHANGE: Whitehall Top Con to Borough Hotel, Marleys to George Hotel

INFO: League is now full with three divisions of 13 teams.

KICK OFF: Saturday, September 7.

WEST LANCSHIRE

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Euxton Villa, Furness Cavaliers, Pennington

OUT: Wigan SMR, Tottinton United

CHANGE: None

INFO: 16 teams in Division One, 15 in Division One and Division Two, 16 teams in Reserves Division One and 15 in Reserve Division Two

KICK OFF: Saturday, August 10

MEMORIAL SUNDAY

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Castle Hotel, Duck and Puddle, Queens Old Boys and Roebuck

OUT: Brown Cow, Rishton Arms, Kings Arms, LS Roofing, Mayfield, Printers Arms

CHANGE: Little Crown to Commercial Hotel.

INFO: Division One has 10 teams with nine teams in both Division Two and Three.

KICK OFF: Sunday, August 25

PENDLE CHARITY

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Bull Hotel, Coach House Antiques United, Connections, George & Dragon Veterans (Barrowford), Morris Dancers, Paak B, Sacred Heart, TSB

OUT: Hour Glass, Shakespeare

CHANGE: None

INFO: Three Divisions instead of two.

KICK OFF: Sunday, August 11

LANCASHIRE AMATEUR

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Chorley Motors Res, Bolton Lads Res, Hindley Res.

OUT: Highfield Utd (Bury)

CHANGE: No change

INFO: Old Blackburnians, Accrington Amateurs, Rossendale Amateurs, Burnley Gramma School and Prairie Utd all compete in the league.

KICK OFF: Saturday, August 17

BURNLEY AND DISTRICT

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Borough FC

OUT: Trinity IDL, Tomorden Boro, Whalley Range, St Andrews, YCW.

CHANGE: Boars Head to Madisons, Pendle Forest to AFC Nelson, Michelin to MAC Old Boys.

INFO: Premier Division has 13 teams and 11 in Division One.

KICK OFF: Saturday, August 31.

ACCRINGTON & DISTRICT

FOOTBALL COMBINATION

IN: Bay Horse, Rhoden FC, Whitakers Arms

OUT: Dog and Partridge, Enfield Thirds, Stanley Street

CHANGE: George Wanderers to Stanley Street Athletic

INFO: League will consist of two divisions of 12 teams.

KICK OFF: Saturday, September 7

BLACKBURN SUNDAY

FOOTBALL LEAGUE

IN: Darwen Victoria, Hordens, Red Lion (Wheelton).

OUT: Lammack, West End.

CHANGE: Malt and Hops to Sportsman Arms, Longshaw to Stop and Rest, Samba to Wellington Samba, GFR Plumbing to Anchor, Moorings to Ewood Arms Reserves, Sign and Poster to Vauxhall

INFO: Division One has 10 teams with 11 in Division Two and Three

KICK OFF: Sunday, September 8

KINGS OF THE CASTLE: Kings Inn did the 'double double' last season after winning the league and cup in the Blackburn Combination and Blackburn Sunday League