The new normal off the pitch

Belper Town are one of a number of clubs to sign up to the league’s preferred partner NQ, which is an app that enables fans to order and pay for food and drink via their phone, and then be alerted when their order is ready for collection.

This helps to avoid queues and assists with the social distancing requirements of clubs.

Other clubs that have NQ installed include Radcliffe, Hyde United, Kidsgrove Athletic and Prescot Cables.

Dave Laughlin, from Belper Town, explains how it’s worked for them: "We introduced NQ just prior to the opening home league match of the season

"The company was great to do business with this, spending time at the club and remotely, configuring the app to ensure that it fully reflected the way in which we wanted to organise things.

“We have separate ordering channels for food and bar services, as items ordered for each need to be picked up from difference collection points inside the stadium.

“NQ populated the app with all of our food and drink items and these were set up in a way that made it easy for customers to identify and select their items.

“Once the orders had been fulfilled, the customer is alerted by text message, including their order number, and is able to collect their items without any problems.

“Our bar and catering staff found the system easy to work with and it did not disrupt our conventional food and drink services in any way.

“There have been no complaints either from the customers either.

"NQ provided a range of personalised advertising items (table top cards, posters etc) all including a QR code to enable customers to download the app immediately.

"Take up of the app was initially slow as people got used to the system but over time I am sure that that number of people who prefer to order in this way will begin to increase significantly.

"Sales are recorded in the ‘back office’ of the app and this can be accessed via the app itself or online through a PC.

"Payment is quick and can be reconciled back to a detailed report of sales made through the app.

"All in all – a great way to move to a cashless environment, which will soon become the norm in these crazy times."

NQ is the latest initiative that has been introduced across the NPL, following the recent partnership with digital ticketing platform Kaizen.

For more information, visit the NQ website at www.noq.global