New swipe card membership system now fully installed at the County Ground

The preparations for the introduction of the new style membership cards at Somerset County Cricket Club are now complete, and members who have already joined for the 2003 season will by now have received their new cards.

Over the last few days two computer engineers have been busy installing the swipe card computer system into the office at the County Ground and linking it up to the terminals that will be situated at each of the entrances.

The work has been undertaken by Hogue 100, a Birmingham based company who have also successfully installed a similar system at Worcestershire's headquarters at New Road Ground, at Sofia Garden's in Cardiff the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, and several other first class county grounds.

Membership secretary Jo Arnold told me: "Under the health and safety regulations we need to know at any given time exactly how many people are inside the ground and now that members have to swipe both in and out, this system will give us that information .It will also tell us exactly who the members are that are inside the ground which will be good for us to know particularly for our marketing strategy."

Jo continued: "Interestingly the first year that Worcestershire introduced their new swipe cards, the club reported a 250% increase in gate receipts."

At present the membership secretary is busy putting the finishing touches to the new 2003 membership guide book that will explain how the swipe card system will work, and will list all first and second team fixtures along with other information including the vouchers that will be needed for getting tickets if the club reaches the final stages of any of the one day competitions.

With an exciting season in prospect until the end of February membership of the club can cost as little as £92 and that entitles the member to free entry to watch 53 days of top class cricket, which is remarkably good value.

In order to cope with the expected demand from new members and existing members trying to rejoin whilst the discounted rates still apply, the office at the County Ground will be opening on Saturday mornings throughout February.

Details of membership can also be obtained by telephoning 01823 272946.