Huge crowds gathered in east London on Thursday night to see the Irons travel in an open-top bus to celebrate their historic Conference Europa League win – securing their first silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1980.
from Siba Jackson, Reporter
Thursday 8 June 2023 10:03 PM UK
Thousands of West Ham United fans lined the streets of east London for a 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 the sea of delighted supporters celebrating their team’s victory 2-1 win against Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night.
Players traveling in the open double-decker bus flash maroon and blue lights amid the deafening sound of cheering crowds at the ground.
Fans were spotted at the statue of the late West Ham and England captain Bobby Moore, while others climbed to the top of the traffic lights to get the best view of the team.
Bubbles also floated in the sky, honoring the team’s famous “I’m forever blowing bubbles” chant.
West Ham tweeted footage of the celebrations, describing their supporters as “the best fans in the world”.
They won their first piece of silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1980 and their first European trophy since 1965.
The historic victory – secured by Jarrod Bowen’s 90th-minute winner – erupted in celebrations that lasted into the early hours of the morning.
The win saw captain Declan Rice – likely to leave the club this summer – become the third West Ham captain, apart from Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, to win silverware in the club’s 128-year history.
He told Sky Sports News: “When you’re a kid and you love football as much as I do, as boys do, you see teams having trophy parades.
Fans climbed to the tops of bus stops and traffic lights to get a good look at the bus
A sea of supporters lined the streets of east London to celebrate the Hammers’ historic victory.
“I used to be a kid watching teams do trophy parades and now to be one of them and captain the country last night is so, so special, I can’t even put it into words, I still don’t get it.”
Bowen said the silverware “means the world” to the team and their fans.
West Ham manager David Moyes was seen celebrating the team’s historic win
Manager David Moyes was seen drinking beer and dancing to The Proclaimers’ song I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) alongside players in the team’s dressing room after their win.
The victory parade started from the Statue of Champions – a bronze tribute to Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and West Ham’s 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup success – on Barking Road, near the team’s former home in Upton Park.
It was due to pass through Plaistow and West Ham before ending with an event at Stratford Town Hall.