On the day York City and Nestl Rowntree signed a far-reaching partnership deal, CHRIS TITLEY and MATTHEW WOODCOCK look at the history of Bootham Crescent, and how similar arrangements have worked at other grounds around the country.

THE name Bootham Crescent has been synonymous with York sport for well over a century.

York Cricket Club played there in the 1880s and it hosted the only County Championship match ever played in the city in June, 1890, when Yorkshire beat Kent by eight wickets.

York City have played at Bootham Crescent since 1932. They switched there from their original home at Fulfordgate - sold for housing - when York CC moved to nearby Wigginton Road where York Hospital now stands.

City's new home at the Crescent was officially opened on August 31, 1932, when they drew 2-2 with Stockport County in a Division Three (North) game.

Floodlights were installed in 1959 and hospitality boxes were built into the Main Stand in 1986-87, but facing the club car park rather than the pitch.

In September, 1989, the ground capacity was 14,628. It now stands at 9,496.

In the third league game of the 1990-91 campaign, striker David Longhurst collapsed and died. The game was abandoned, and a Bootham Crescent stand was later renamed in David's memory.

More recently, the ground has been at the centre of York City's scrap for survival.

In 2000, the ownership of Bootham Crescent was transferred from the club to a company, Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH). Then City chairman and majority shareholder in BCH, Douglas Craig, said this move would safeguard the club's future.

He then put the club up for sale in December 2001, insisting that York City would quit the Football League if no buyer was found.

The following month BCH announced that any buyer would have to pay £4.5 million or City would be evicted from Bootham Crescent.

New chairman John Batchelor insisted that City would play at the Crescent until a new 17,000-seater stadium was built. But in the summer Persimmon Homes submitted a planning application to build 93 homes on the site of the ground.

City, pushed to the brink of extinction, were saved by the fans. The Supporters Trust took over in April, 2003. Plans to move City to a revamped Huntington Stadium came to nothing.

After lengthy negotiations the trust secured a £2 million loan from the Football Foundation to buy Bootham Crescent from BCH. The Nestl Rowntree sponsorship money makes up the £100,000 shortfall on that deal. If all goes smoothly, the fans will officially own the ground as well as the club next month. The long term plan is to sell Bootham Crescent and move to a purpose-built stadium.

How £100k will fit into York City's financial jigsaw

SENIOR Nestl Rowntree management will hand over a £100,000 cheque to York City's directors at KitKat Crescent on Saturday.

The presentation at half-time at City's Nationwide Conference game against Morecambe sets the seal on the two-year ground renaming deal.

The new ground-breaking partnership came in to effect yesterday with the cash seen as the final piece of the jigsaw for the club to secure ownership of the ground.

City managing director Jason McGill said: "This is a fantastic show of support from Nestl Rowntree. We are all extremely excited about the partnership and look forward to developing it further over the next two years."

The Nestl contingent will receive a signed limited edition print of the ground during Saturday's visit.

City's players were due at Nestl's Wigginton Road factory today to look round the KitKat production department.

The new deal follows Nestl's previous sponsorship of the York City Family Stand and Family Room.

Last week, Mr McGill had assured York City supporters not to worry about the £100,000 shortfall - the last p3iece in the financial jigsaw - left after a £2 million loan from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund helped transfer ownership of Bootham Crescent back to the football club.

He said: "York City's supporters should not lose any sleep at night about that as things are being worked on and, hopefully, very soon we will be able to announce that that part of the deal will be satisfied."

Other football stadia named after their sponsor...

Bradford City - Bradford & Bingley Stadium

Bradford City play at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium as part of a sponsorship deal. It is commonly known as Valley Parade.

Arsenal - Emirates Stadium

Arsenal will move from Highbury into the Emirates Stadium in August 2006

Bolton Wanderers - Reebok Stadium

Bolton Wanderers moved into the new all-purpose Reebok Stadium from Burnden Park in 1997

Leicester City - Walkers Stadium

In 2002, Leicester City moved from Filbert Street, to the 32,000-seater Walkers Stadium, named after the crisps manufacturer based in the city.

Huddersfield Town - Galpharm Stadium

Formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium. Pharmaceuticals

supplier Galpharm group took over the sponsorship from the McAlpine Building Group.

Bournemouth - Fitness First Stadium

In 2001, the 9,986-seater Fitness First Stadium became the new home of Bournemouth, following a sponsorship deal by health club operator Fitness First.

Stoke City - Britannia Stadium

The Britannia Stadium is the 28,000 seater home of Stoke City, sponsored by Britannia Building Society.

Wigan Athletic - JJB Stadium

Wigan Athletic moved into the JJB Stadium from Springfield Park. The club's chairman, David Whelan, is also the owner of the sports retail giant.

Scarborough FC - McCain Stadium

Scarborough FC renamed The Athletic Ground the McCain Stadium, as the frozen food giants have a large factory in the Eastfield area of the town.

Hull City - Kingston Communications Stadium

Hull City play at the 25,400 capacity Kingston Communications stadium,

following sponsorship from the East Yorkshire company.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, January 19, 2005