Sheffield United have improved the ticketing system by introducing a swipe card initiative.

Following a successful pilot scheme, season ticket holders were issued with a plastic "credit card" style ticket instead of the traditional bulky booklet.

The cards can also be used by regular visitors to Bramall Lane and provide simple ways to buy seats for games, gain quicker entry at the turnstiles and for the club to easily replace and cancel lost or stolen cards.

Queues at the ticket office, on the turnstile and over the phone have been drastically reduced because of the cards.

Emma Wylie, ticket office manager at Sheffield United said: "We had a lot of feedback from supporters on the scheme which led to us piloting it at some home games last season. These were successful with queues reduced in many areas at the club. We believe this is a great step forward in improving facilities at Bramall Lane and our service to loyal fans."

Cards will be instantly activated for fixtures, saving unnecessary trips to the ticket office. On match days fans will be required to insert their card into an automated turnstile which will access information contained on the embedded electronic chip and allow entry.

Regular match goers can add chosen games by contacting the Blades' ticket office or the club website. The adding of games to a swipe card will also apply to all season ticket and card holders wanting to purchase cup tickets next season.

Supporters will also be able to use the same card for subsequent seasons, if they keep the same seat, starting with the 2008/09 campaign where fans could be enjoying half-price Premiership football.

For more information on a Blades season ticket please contact the ticket office on 0871 222 1889.