BACK in 1976 Nick Holmes was lucky enough to get his hands on the FA Cup for real when Southampton famously triumphed over Manchester United at Wembley.

Twenty-seven years later his second flirtation with the Cup was more from the land of make believe.

As part of the Cup's annual tour around the non-League clubs, the famous, old trophy this week went on parade at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, where Holmes is boss of DML Eastern Division side Salisbury City.

Holmes laughed: "This is the nearest Salisbury are going to get to the FA Cup this year, but it's a great opportunity to get us a bit of media coverage ahead of tomorrow's home tie against Westbury United.

"It's nice for the club and the directors that the FA have thought of us and shows we haven't been forgotten."

The long-serving Dell midfielder also had the chance to get up close and personal with the FA Trophy for the first time ever.

The Whites are due to enter that competition in the preliminary tomorrow week and have again landed a home tie against Clevedon Town. Holmes smiled: "That's an impressive cup too. We've got more chance of winning the Trophy, but even that's long odds!"

The Salisbury boss will have some work to do lifting his players tomorrow in the wake of Tuesday's comprehensive 4-0 Eastern Division defeat by Eastleigh.

Holmes admitted: "The boys were really down because they'd lost a derby, but they shouldn't get too depressed about it because it was a tough, tough game against a very good side whose experience shone through.

"Eastleigh should finish in the Eastern Division top three with no problem and, if they show the attitude they did against us, they could probably win it."

Ex-Saint Andy Cook should be back to face Western Leaguers Westbury after hamstring problems and midfielder Wayne Turk is expected to shrug off ankle trouble.

Striker Adam Wallace may need another week recovering from a broken toe.