HE LIKED his local pub so much he bought it.

John Cooney has swapped his usual spot at the bar for pulling pints behind it.

The 57-year-old is the new owner of the Cricketers Arms in Southampton’s Bedford Place, where he used to go every Friday night with his school sweetheart, Sally.

He bought his favourite pub – in Carlton Place – for £600,000 after a nine-month battle.

He said: “I am delighted to own the Cricketers, I have so many memories in this pub.

“I paid more than half a million pounds for it, I know that was probably more than I should have paid but I went to see others and they just weren’t the same.”

John is an avid Saints fan and even bought a black cab to decorate with the emblem of the club.

He works full time as an IT consultant and has recently set up a freelance IT consultancy and a furniture business, as well as purchasing the pub.

Although John is delighted to own the pub, he does not want to be actively involved in running it.

John said: “I love everything about this pub and think the team of staff run it really well.

"I wouldn’t want to see anything change, I am happy to be in the background and let the team look after the day to day running of the pub.”

John lives in Warsash with his now wife, Sally Cooney, who he met at the age of 15. The couple have two sons who have been very supportive of the purchase.

Sally, also 57, said she was happy John made the purchase and she particularly likes the ‘village feel’ of the pub.

She said: “The Cricketers is an iconic pub in Southampton and it is in good hands with John. He cares about the pub and will make sure that always does well.”

Cricketers staff are excited to start a new relationship with John.

Huw Sailsbury, 33, newly appointed pub manager, said: “This pub is well established and it is nice that John doesn’t want to change any of the things we are best at – he very much wants to keep the pub exactly the same.”

The Saints supporter has organised an event at the Cricketers tonight in commemoration of the Saints’ 1976 FA Cup victory.