YORK City players were able to "Have A Break" from training when they visited Nestl Rowntree's KitKat production line.

The factory tour followed yesterday's announcement that the club's home of 73 years is to change its name from Bootham Crescent to KitKat Crescent.

Nestl has donated £100,000 to the club, allowing the completion of a £2.1million deal to buy back their stadium from landlords Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH).

In return, the Minstermen will now play their Nationwide Conference home matches at the newly-named KitKat Crescent for at least the duration of a two-year partnership.

Nestl's Derek Harkess showed caretaker first-team manager Viv Busby, player-coach Lee Nogan and players Jon Maloney, Lee Grant, Graeme Law, Nathan Kamara, Arran Reid and Adam Arthur, around the factory, and introduced them to workers, many of them City supporters.

Mr Busby said: "I think it's fantastic that Nestl have done this. The club's board asked for their help and they have proven that they have got a lot of interest in what they are doing.

"It's a shame that there are not more local companies helping out financially.

"Getting money into this football club is a necessity, and changing the name of your stadium to do that is now part and parcel of football."

Meanwhile, City supporters have been generally positive about the sponsorship deal.

Hugh Kitchin, the club's chairman in 1955 during the team's glorious FA Cup run, said: "I like the KitKat name in relation to buying chocolate, but not in relation to football.

"But I guess the club have very good reason for it."

Val Duggan, from Holgate, said it was a "fantastic achievement" by club managing director Jason McGill to secure the deal.

"Before the usual moaners come out to decry the loss of the name of Bootham Crescent, they should realise the significance of the board in obtaining sponsorship from Nestl when the team and club is at such a low ebb," he said.

"Fans disappointed at the loss of the name should seek to lay the blame either with BCH or the part-time fans who have deserted the club over the past 12 months.

"A name is a name, and if we fold for lack of interest it doesn't really matter what league we are in or what the ground is called."

Meanwhile, fans have logged on to the club's website forum to give their opinions on the name change.

One, calling himself Boris Carpark, said: "Renaming the ground KitKat is an excellent 'wafer' us to bring in some much needed cash."

Dynamo Kebab said: "Given the finances of the club, there's no choice. We need that money."

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, January 20, 2005