Now smartphones are just the ticket for Prem clubs

TICKET books and stubs have long been a thing of the past at most grounds up and down the country.

But whether you go to the cinema or Anfield, the barcode will greet you now as your ticket to an afternoon’s entertainment.

And you are going to need a smartphone to use it as well, which is a big concern for supporter groups.

They are worried that fans who don’t own smartphones – particularly elderly supporters – are being left behind. Fans going to Premier League games this weekend will get a taste of the future after technology made its debut in pre-season.

Manchester United and Everton are among the clubs whose fan will gain entry to their stadiums this weekend using NFC (near-field communication) tickets, which must be downloaded to a smartphone and contactlessly scanned at the gates for entry.

More than half of top-flight clubs have embraced the technology, and more are set to follow, with the Premier League encouraging its stakeholders to adopt the system which would see the end of print-athome tickets and plastic photocards.

They expect the move to NFC tickets to reduce the amount of touchpoints in stadiums in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, and to help clamp down on touting.

Supporter groups insist they are liaising regularly with clubs to ensure no fans are left behind, and they are sure to receive plenty of feedback this weekend as the rollout of NFC tickets gets under way.