THE treasured FA Cup has come home to Southampton - two weeks before Saints take on Arsenal at Cardiff.

Regulars at the Station Hotel in Bitterne were lucky enough to get their hands on the £25,000 cup as part of a promotion by FA Cup sponsors Carlsberg.

Some 150 Saints fans took part in the promotion and had their photograph taken holding the much-revered trophy.

Tony Keeley, manager of the pub in Bullar Road, said: "It was an excellent night. The atmosphere and passion of fans was electric.

"We are a very big Saints pub anyway and were fortunate enough to be offered the genuine FA Cup for the evening.

"Saints getting through to the final is great for the city as a whole. The cup has gone back to the FA for now but we are keeping our fingers crossed it will be coming back this way shortly."

More Saints FA Cup news at www.thisisthesaints.co.uk and click on the link to 'The Cup'