IT WILL have taken almost a year, but a little piece of history should be created at Bootham Crescent sometime soon.

IT WILL have taken almost a year, but a little piece of history should be created at Bootham Crescent sometime soon.First sightings in York were anticipated back in December but never surfaced.Now its first appearance in front of the York faithful can only be a matter of time as football's rule-makers have decided the 'ten-yard-rule' is here to stay.This season should see the new regulation become an integral part of a referee's armoury in a clampdown on dissent and unsporting behaviour.After a trial run in a local league in Jersey, the dictum was piloted professionally in last year's Auto Windscreens Shield but was not witnessed at Bootham Crescent as City crashed out to Hull at the first hurdle.However, the rule was deemed a success elsewhere in the competition and has been adopted by both the Premier League and Football League.A similar rule already exists in rugby, whereby the referee has the power to advance a free-kick ten yards.In football, there will be four instances when a referee will be able to implement the rule and advance a free-kick following a caution.They are for dissent, for delaying the restart of the game, for failing to retreat ten yards and for any other form of unsporting behaviour.The ball can be taken into the penalty area where it remains a free-kick but it cannot go into the six yard box.Further change will see City goalkeeper Alan Fettis able to take as many steps as he likes but once the ball is under control the Northern Ireland international must release it within six seconds.The referee will decide at what point the goalkeeper actually takes control of the ball.The new goalkeeping law was deemed a success in Euro 2000, encouraging net-minders to launch swift counter-attack and so maintaining the ebb and flow of the game.Assistant referees are to be given a "higher profile" this season.They will be expected to indicate for any offence which they are closer too than the referee, including an offence committed in the penalty area.They will also be allowed to enter the field of play to control a defensive wall at a free-kick.The fourth official will also be able to advise the referee during the game of incidents like acts of violent conduct which have gone undetected by the man in the middle or his two assistants.Other changes this season include:l There will be no adverts on the field of play, as is seen in cricket and rugby, or between the goal line and the goal nets.l The coach or manager must return to his position in the technical area immediately after giving instructions to his players but the laws do no require him to sit down.Making his mark

TOMORROW'S match referee at Bootham Crescent, Mark Clattenburg, will be making his Football League debut after being promoted to the referee's list from the Conference.At 25 years of age, Clattenburg is believed to be one of the youngest League referees ever and surpasses the record set by Jack Taylor who was 26 when he officiated his first game since 1956.Taylor went on to referee the 1974 World Cup final between Germany and Holland.