On Friday, James Curley, Paddy James, Darren Currie and Lee Trundle arrived in Cardiff for a slap-up meal, before being joined by Jeff Minton and Ashley Sestanovich on Saturday morning.

The players started the morning being interviewed by their local papers, as the journalists were invited for a 'behind the scenes' day in Cardiff.

James Curley and Darren Currie took time out to put on the headphones as they were interviewed live on air by Adrian Chiles on BBC Five Live, whilst Paddy and Lee Trundle braved the passing traffic (and the clamour for autographs in the case of Trundle!) to speak to Alan Brazil and Mike Parry on Talk Sports' Breakfast Show.

Interviews concluded, the players and their guests made their way across to The FA's VIP Hospitality area, where their reward for being voted as the 'FA Cup Player of the Round' started to sink in.

First they were treated to a champagne reception, before having their photos taken with The FA Cup. Next up, the players moved to their tables to listen to pre-match interviews of Trevor Brooking and Sir Geoff Hurst, conducted by compere Jeff Stelling, of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday fame.

Pre-match banter and predictions over, the players tucked into their 3-course meal, before then being invited to take their seats in the Millennium Stadium.

Accompanying the players - which saw the first pensive request for an autograph from James Curley - were Norman Whiteside, Tony Cascarino and Clive Allen, as well as actors from Coronation Street, guests of FA Partners, and fervent Manchester United fans.

At half-time came the big moment for the players. Escorted to the side of the pitch, one-by-one they were introduced to the crowd, as the giant video screens at either end of the stadium featured a showreel with the players in action, earlier in this season's competition.

The biggest cheer was reserved for Millwall's Tim Cahill, who was The FA Cup Player of the Round for the semi finals, but as the players came off the pitch to return to their seats, they were beseigned by Millwall fans asking for autographs. Paddy and James meanwhile took the chance to get the autographs of cup-tied Manchester United player Louis Saha.

After seeing Manchester United crowned FA Cup winners for an historic eleventh time, the players returned for some post-match hospitality, as their VIP weekend drew to a close.

Darren Currie, formely of Wycombe Wanderers who last week was released by the newly relegated Buckinghamshire club said: "When I won this Award, I was presented with my silver salver on my 29th birthday back in November.

"At the time I was given £1000 of kit and equipment to donate to a local school by UMBRO, and I thought that was a big enough reward.

"When we found out that we were going to be VIP guests at The FA Cup Final, it was something special, and now I have experienced it once, I will be shooting from 70 yards and all over the place next season, in the hope that I can come back and do it all again!"  

The Team of The FA Cup comprised the eleven winners of The FA Player of the Round Award which has been running since the First Qualifying Round in September last year.

This season over 1.5million fans votes were registered at TheFA.com over the eleven rounds and the Award will be back next season, in partnership with UMBRO at the First Qualifying Round stage, with fans from across the country being able to vote for the best playing performances in The FA Cup.

Team of The FA Cup 2003-4:

1Q  James Curley (Oldham Town)
2Q  Paddy James (Lymington & New Milton)
3Q  Jeff Minton (Canvey Island)
4Q  Steve Guinan (Hereford United)
1R  Darren Currie (Wycombe Wanderers)
2R  Ashley Sestanovich (Scarborough, on loan from Sheffield United)
3R  Lee Trundle (Swansea City)
4R  Bruno Cheyrou (Liverpool)
5R  Jose Antonio Reyes (Arsenal)
6R  Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal)
SF  Tim Cahill (Millwall)