FA CUP fever gripped Salisbury on Saturday as hundreds of football fans packed the city's pubs to watch Southampton's televised cup final showdown with Arsenal on large screens.

Their team were beaten 1-0 in a tight game, but Saints fans were determined to enjoy the day.

Colin Grigg, landlord of the Kings Arms in Fisher-ton Street, was at Wem-bley when Southampton beat Manchester United in 1976. On Saturday, his pub was full of Saints followers.

He said: "We had a wonderful day with about 60 people in for a lovely family atmosphere.

"We are proud of the players and not too disappointed, because they are in Europe and finished eighth in the league.

"Lots of our customers stayed on afterwards and we have had letters saying how happy people were with the day."

Those supporters lucky enough to have secured tickets for the match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff could not fail to have been caught up in the emotion of the event.

Bryan Wheble, 61, helped organise five minibuses from The Hogs Head pub, taking a symbolic 76 fans to Cardiff.

He said: "You didn't need to drink - you could just get drunk on the atmosphere.

"We stopped at a service station and saw an open top bus with fans all dressed as Gordon Strachan, with a barbecue and a disco, and that set the tone for the day.

"I have never met such friendly people as in Cardiff, and you couldn't wish for a better police force. It was just a sea of yellow and blue and our mood was the same even after we lost.

"We all stayed for the presentation and the only disappointing thing was the Arsenal fans. We were saying 'cheer up, you won the Cup!'"

The non-stop singing of the yellow and blue hordes shamed the Arsenal fans, who appeared almost blas about the whole event.

Even after the final whistle, there were chants of 'Shall we sing a song for you?' directed at the Gunners supporters.

The day had seemed tailor-made for Saints' old warhorse Chris Marsden to turn around to the club's superb following with the famous trophy aloft.

It wasn't to be but many believe Saints will be stronger for this experience.

Salisbury City manager Nick Holmes - a Wembley winner in 1976 - watched the game alongside some of his former Southampton team mates at the stadium.

"The atmosphere was just fantastic. It meant so much to Southampton supporters to be there and the crowd were fantastic even though we lost."

Nick's 1976 team remain the only one in the club's history to lift the famous trophy, but there was no denying they all wanted the current side to equal their achievements.

"I'm probably the only true Southampton supporter among them, but they were all desperately wanting Saints to win. Ossie (Peter Osgood) joked afterwards: "I guess we're still legends then," but he and everyone among us were so intent on a Saints win.

"It was still a great day though and the memory of the atmosphere there will live on."