PROFESSIONAL doormen will be on the gate at Worcester City football club after two men were arrested and two others thrown out of its ground during a recent game.

Two trained security staff will be employed to search bags and make sure no glasses are taken outside the social club at the St George’s Lane ground during every home game for the next three months.

The club estimates the move will cost the cash-strapped club about £200 per game.

The extra security was agreed at a special meeting of the safety advisory group, made up of people from Worcestershire County Council, West Mercia Police and other members of the emergency services.

The meeting was called last Friday following the disorder at the match against AFC Telford United on Monday, October 12.

Colin Layland, the club’s site director, said: “They’ve advised us to tighten up on the situation by bringing in some doormen at £200 at time to supervise the turnstiles. It’s going to cost us when we can ill afford it.

“We are angry that some people have put us in the position where we have to spend money.”

City’s safety officer Tony Partridge praised the club’s stewards and said: “The council and police want us to quash this mindless action before it gets any bigger.

“I’ve been safety officer for 15 years and it’s the first time we’ve had an incident like this.

“Those involved don’t realise the cost to the club. But we’ve got to learn from it and move forward.”

Charlie Heritage, who represents the council on the advisory group, said the club had been asked to use qualified staff trained to deal with drunk people to nip problems in the bud.

The club’s stewards will work alongside the security staff with a view to taking over the doormen’s role in the new year.

l A man in his 40s has been charged with being drunk in a sports ground and possession of a class B substance and will appear before city magistrates on Tuesday, October 27.