Huge crowds gathered in east London on Thursday night to watch The Irons travel on an open-top bus to celebrate their historic Europa Conference League win – winning the first silver trophy. first since lifting the FA Cup in 1980.
Via Siba Jackson, news reporter
Thursday, June 8, 2023 22:03, UK
Thousands of West Ham United fans lined the streets of east London for the victory parade after the team lifted their first major trophy in more than 40 years.
A bus carrying the Hammers emblazoned with a “Winners” sign struggled to make its way through a sea of ​​cheering supporters celebrating their team 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night.
The players traveled on an open top double-decker bus that released fireworks and blue flares amid the shrill sound of the cheering crowd on the ground.
Fans were shown a statue of the late West Ham and England captain Bobby Moore, while others climbed onto traffic lights for the best view of the team.
Balloons also floated in the sky, honoring the team’s famous line, “I blow bubbles forever”.
West Ham tweeted footage of the celebration, describing their supporters as “the greatest fans in the world”.
They won their first silver trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1980 and their first European trophy since 1965.
The historic win – guaranteed by Jarrod Bowen’s decisive goal in the 90th minute – saw the stadium erupt in celebrations that lasted well into the early hours of the morning.
The win sees captain Declan Rice – potentially leaving the club this summer – becoming the third West Ham captain, aside from Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, to lift the silver trophy in history. 128 years of the club.
He told Sky Sports News: “When you’re a kid, and you love football as much as I do, as do the boys, you see the teams marching on titles.
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“I used to be a kid watching title parades and now being on a team and being the team’s captain last night, it was so special, I can’t even put into words what it feels like. That hasn’t affected me yet.”
Bowen said the silver trophy “means the whole world” to the team and their fans.
Manager David Moyes was seen drinking beer and dancing to The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) song with the players in the team’s dressing room after their win.
The victory parade began at the Statue of Champions – a bronze tribute to Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and West Ham’s 1965 Champions League triumph – on Barking Road, near the former’s home ground of West Ham. team at Upton Park.
It will pass through Plaistow and West Ham before ending with an event at Stratford town hall.
