FIRST Nestl Rowntree took drab old Christmas and turned it into a magical family festival.

Having coughed up thousands for York's festive lights, the company could have taken crass commercial advantage. Instead, inspired by the story of the three wise men who gave the infant Jesus gold, frankincense and a milk chocolate assortment hurriedly bought at a Bethlehem petrol station, our Haxby Road benefactors hung giant Quality Street chocs on York's main Christmas Rowntree. Tasteful in every sense.

Now they've sprinkled more fairy dust at the football ground, rechristening it KitKat Crescent.

For York City fans Rowntree's hundred grand will add a big dollop of lactose, emulsifier, butterfat and flavouring to this otherwise hard-to-swallow name change.

True, Bootham Crescent is an historic moniker. And the name seemed poignantly appropriate for the often disconsolate City faithful (more appropriate than "Cheertham Crescent" anyway).

But KitKat Crescent is equally fitting. If anyone's embraced the "Have A Break" message, it's the City strikers.

The news has set the Diary thinking: could the Evening Press grab some confectionery cash?

If we introduced sponsored City match reports, might we become almost as rich as, ooh, Douglas Craig?

For 200K, we could seamlessly incorporate Nestl Rowntree references into our fearlessly independent journalism...

"Yorkie City ran out for the first time in their Double Cream home strip and their play was as Smarties their new Kit (Kat).

"Early in the first half an Andy Bishop volley smacked against Real Madrid's Milkybar. But then City took the lead with a move as sweet as a pocketful of Polos.

"A crunching tackle saw Lee Grant Rolo-ver in pain. When he recovered, he managed to Drifter long ball to Darren Dunning whose first-time (Fruit) Pass-tille found Kevin Donovan.

"He Walnut Whipped a cross into the Dairy Box. Paul Robinson, as slippy as a Caramackerel, lost his marker to head home.

"As the ball crossed the goal-Lion Bar, the crowd cheered the whole team for their Aero-ics."

EVENING Press contributor and author Joy Crawshaw is a film buff. Recently she went to see The Aviator, which won a Golden Globe award this week.

Joy has an unusual way of enhancing her movie-going enjoyment: she wears earplugs and sunglasses.

"It's a very clever film, but very loud," said Joy, who watched Leo DiCaprio and co at City Screen in York. "The noise was reverberating around. I was sitting with my earplugs in and, at times, my sunglasses on. Some of the special effects were so bright."

As Yesterday Once More revealed on Monday, Joy has just published a book, Whose City Was This? It is a tour of York's history aimed at the younger reader.

What my article forgot to mention was that a portion of the sale price will go to a charity for physically handicapped children, who can't take a walking tour.

AN email from Dave Hart: "In response to your article titled City Elvis rocks Blackpool (January 14), may I say that I was disappointed with the lack of a mention of the real Elvis Presley who this week made history with One Night being the 1,000th UK number one.

"So with respect for Elvis I should like to remind everyone just how important this year is to sincere Elvis fans worldwide and that his success is paramount to us.

"And I do not agree with people taking advantage of Elvis's success by jumping on the band wagon to satisfy their own egos."

Updated: 09:18 Wednesday, January 19, 2005