Takeover talk in big game banter

Tom Bourton BBC Wales news website

Protest held before FA Cup final Big match build-up in pictures

"There's only one Malcolm Glazer" came the chants from the pub across a sodden Cardiff street, as fans flocked to the FA Cup final in the Millennium Stadium.

The singers were of course Arsenal fans, cheekily trying to wind up their Manchester United counterparts.

Mr Glazer's takeover of the club added another dimension to the pre-match banter as fans mingled before kick-off. Everywhere you went, anti-Glazer songs rippled from one group of United fans to the next.

And while Arsenal fans gleefully highlighted United's new American connection, a group of United fans carried out a peaceful protest march up Wood Street towards the stadium.

Samantha Harris and Steve Coombes let their T-shirts do the talking

Elsewhere on the streets, United supporters were split on the issue.

Keith Goodes, from London, had set up an anti-Glazer banner opposite the stadium and was proudly sporting an RIP armband mourning the death of the club.

"The people who are informed side with the protest, while others are more open-minded," he said.

"There is this myth that Glazer is another Roman Abramovich, but that is not the case."

He added that most people "seemed pretty sympathetic", and supported peaceful protests, but said that anything more could "do more harm than good".

But Brian Connolly from Ashton-under-Lyne near Manchester, who owns shares in Manchester United, said fans just had to put up with the situation.

Arsenal fan Karen Moloney said Cardiff was a brilliant city

"We have to live with it - they should have taken steps to make sure it didn't happen a while ago," he said.

Samantha Harris and Steve Coombes were wearing matching T-shirts against the takeover, but said the issue had not overshadowed the game.

"I think it has more edge because of who we are playing," he said, referring to the recent on-pitch rivalry between Arsenal and United.

Well-organised

When the FA Cup final first came to Cardiff in 2001, Michael Owen's late double in glorious sunshine downed Arsenal to win the cup for Liverpool.

Sadly the good weather did not hold for Saturday's game, as the rain came down, forcing pockets of supporters to shelter in doorways and in the arcades.

Protesters showed their anger at the takeover

But, despite the wet weather, it seems that fans are going to miss their regular trips to Cardiff.

Arsenal fan Karen Moloney, from London, has watched her side play in the Millennium Stadium four times.

"It is a brilliant city, we always have a really good time - they do it well, and the restaurants are always really friendly," she said.

And fellow Arsenal supporter Steve Baker, 40, from Essex, said he would rather go to Cardiff than Wembley.

"Wembley is a dump - there is nothing to do, while in the city centre here you can walk around and enjoy a day out," he said.

United fan Robert Todd, 43, from Manchester, agreed Cardiff had been a good host.

"It is well-organised, with the park and ride - it works well," he said.

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