IT was a night that regulars of the Swan pub in Lower Darwen would never forget.

As they sat enjoying a Saturday evening pint, one of the most famous sporting trophies in the world was brought in through the front door -- and during the course of the evening, every single person in the pub had a drink out of it.

The tale of how the FA Cup spent a Saturday night in an East Lancashire hostelry has been revealed by Brian Dixon, a committee member of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Club during the 1950s.

Mr Dixon, of Owlett Hall Road, Darwen, said: "The supporters club had organised an exhibition stand in 1956 for the Blackburn Agricultural Show with prominent football trophies and memorabilia.

"We had the FA Youth Cup, the Lancashire Senior Cup and international caps and jerseys belonging to Bill Eckersley and Eddie Crosson. We also managed to borrow the FA Cup from Manchester City to put on display.

"I remember the secretary Bob Edwards going to Manchester to pick it up and bringing it back in his car.

"We kept in in a bank vault in Blackburn overnight but on the Saturday night Bob called into his local, which is now Uncle Jack's, with the the FA Cup. It got passed round the pub as everyone there had a drink from it

"I can't see anyone doing that these days."

Having borrowed one of the most historic trophies in world football for the weekend, Mr Edwards then put it on the back seat of his car and drove it back to Manchester on the Monday morning.