FANS have criticised the decision from Worcester Warriors to make Sixways a cashless stadium from next month.

The club announced last week that the ground would become card-only “to improve the matchday experience for supporters and visitors.”

From the European Challenge Cup match against Dragons on Saturday December 7, all bars, food and drink outlets, programme sellers and hospitality areas will only accept credit or debit cards or payments by mobile phone.

Since then, fans have reacted angrily to the news, with some saying it makes the stadium less family-friendly.

On the Warriors Facebook page, John Guest said: “Well there goes our family friendly stadium then.”

Gill Collins said: “Considering Worcester Warriors are classed as a dementia friendly club and won awards for the work they have done in this area, how is this dementia friendly or, for that matter encourage the older fans who still prefer to use cash?”

Worcester City Councillor Richard Udall said the move was a “serious mistake” saying: “Not everyone, especially children have access to payment cards.

“No longer family friendly and now increasingly elitist at Warriors.”

Joe Lewis said: “Superb. Make the luddites catch up with modern times, reduce waiting times at tills and save money for the club as well in transacting cash.”

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Warriors have since said that the move will still go ahead as planned on December 7 and under the new system, cash payments will still be taken at the Candy Shack in the new EBC Fanzone.

When the plan was announced, managing director Peter Kelly said: “We live in a society that is becoming increasingly cashless in which customers are used to purchasing goods using a card or their mobile phone.

“We hope that there will be significant benefits for supporters and visitors to Sixways when the stadium becomes cashless.

“It will reduce queuing at bars and food outlets so that supporters do not miss any of the action on the pitch or entertainment in the new EBC Fanzone.

“It will also speed up service and improve the matchday experience for supporters.

“We have already installed a new high speed wi-fi system which will allow every spectator to go online and which will support the cashless system.

“We hope that the transition to a cashless stadium will be seamless and that supporters and visitors to Sixways will appreciate a simplified payment system.”