ROVERS fans will soon be able to use their new season tickets to pay for a pie and a pint at the match.

Supporters attending the first home game of the season against Millwall will be able to use their contactless season ticket card at the turnstile.

And from November, fans will be able to link their season ticket card to their bank account so they can use it to pay for food and drinks inside the stadium.

Supporters will also be able to use their card with other retailers away from Ewood at around the same time.

The season ticket card cannot be used at an ATM machine, nor as a credit card.

The new tickets have been welcomed by the Rovers Trust chairman John Murray. The system replaces the previous barcode entry that Rovers used last season.

Mr Murray said: “If you go to a Bundesliga game in Germany, this is typical, so it’s a step in to the 21st Century.

“Football is an industry where a lot intensity in the 15 minutes before the match and the 15 minutes at half-time. So to get something to eat and drink at half-time you either have to leave your seat early and miss some of the game, or waste 20 minutes in a queue.

“So hopefully this will help people to get their food and drink faster, maybe spend more with the club and alleviate the queues.

And Mr Murray added that he hoped the use of new technology will help the club attract the fans back to Ewood.

He said: “We know how much it costs to run a football club and anything that can be done to maximise revenue and get people back to watch the team has to be a good thing – even non-football events such as concerts helps to raise money for the club.

“There were 26,000 who came to the Oxford United game. We need them to come along to every home game.”

A similar system was introduced at Aston Villa in January this year. Fans use their season tickets or membership cards to pay for goods, and earn loyalty points at the same time.

Season tickets are still available for Rovers and prices start from £349 for adults.

Senior tickets are available from £215, while supporters aged 18 to 21 pay £195.

Junior prices are still frozen at 'early bird' levels, with under-18 tickets available from £90.

Under-12s are £60 with under-8s going free in the Family Stand with a full paying adult/senior.

Rovers face Millwall in the Championship at Ewood Park on Saturday at 3pm.