Thousands of Newcastle supporters turn out to celebrate historic Carabao Cup win in style as Toon Army line the streets ahead of open-top bus parade
An estimated 200,000-plus jubilant Newcastle United supporters have turned out to celebrate their sensational Carabao Cup victory at Wembley earlier this month with an open-top bus parade this afternoon.
Eddie Howe’s side ended their lengthy 70-year wait for a domestic trophy after beating Liverpool, courtesy of goals from local hero Dan Burn and Alexander Isak. Federico Chiesa set up a grandstand finish but the Magpies held out to make history.
To commemorate their success, the club organised a bus parade through the city centre.
The procession left St James’ Park at 4.30pm with the streets lined with hundreds of thousands of adoring fans, the atmosphere jubilant.
The open top bus wound its way to the Town Moor, where a ticketed celebration for a Q&A with Newcastle club legends including Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.
The current squad took to the the stage to salute their fans at 6.30pm, with Newcastle superfans Ant and Dec leading a chant of ‘Toon! Toon!’
The players and staff on stage took turns lifting the cup, with Ant and Dec shouting encouragement and the mass of fans cheering them on.
Speaking to Toon fans Ant and Dec on Sky Sports, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: ‘It’s unbelievable, I didn’t know what to expect today, I was hoping for something really special and hoping the weather would be good, but this is incredible, absolutely mindblowing.
Seeing at times lost for words with the emotion of the day, Howe added: ‘I hoped a few people would turn up, but there’s peple hanging from lampposts, out of buildings, I hope everyone is already and stays healthy.’
‘When you go to a new club you never know if people will understand your character but I am who I am. The people have been brilliant, I can’t thank them enoough the way they have embraced me and my family. I’m just glad to have given them some joy.’
Newcastle United fans watch on as the players pass by aboard an open top bus during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle today
Two buses, decked out in Newcastle’s signature black and white, bear the slogan ‘WINNERS 24/25’
A daredevil Newcastle fan scales a tree in order to get a prime vantage point to view the open top tour bus as it passes
The club’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer said: ‘We could get used to this couldn’t we? I don’t know where I am, what time it is, the past two weeks have been maybe the best of my life. It was bloody amazing.
‘This is what we all wanted, I wanted this to happen in my lifetime. Eddie Howe and the rest of the team have done our magnificent city so proud.’
He added: ‘I was lucky enough to win the Premier League with Blackburn, but two weeks ago was the best feeling I’ve ever had on a football pitch. Me and my family have been waiting for this day all our lives.’
Shearer’s father, a diehard Toon fan, passed away last year but the England forward said his father would have been ecstatic to see his beloved Newcastle finally claim a trophy.
He said: ‘My dad was lucky enough to see them at the ’69 final [when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup] but he would have been watching from above.’
A full screening of the cup final took place at 2pm this afternoon, allowing Geordies to relieve the joy of the day.
Streets and buildings have been adorned in black and white ahead of the festivities, with a gigantic banner of Eddie Howe and a host of celebrity guests are also expected to be in attendance.
Indeed, Ant and Dec were spotted heading inside the chairman’s entrance at St James’ Park after posing for photos and signing autographs for supporters. Alan Shearer is also thought to be lined up for a Q&A session at the Town Moor event.
Former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand said: ‘We were dubbed ‘the entertainers’, a great title to have but unfortunately we weren’t able to win anything.
‘I think this team has got a bit more grit and determination, we might have been a bit more flamboyant but sometimes you need to be a bit more practical.
‘What’s special about this group is these set of supporters, none of these players will be supported again like this no matter where we go.’
Newcastle’s players and staff set off at 4.30pm before the convoy proceeded past Haymarkets and onto the Great North Road.
The bus arrived at Town Moor at 5pm but the squad will not take to the stage until 6:30pm. The night will be rounded off by a light show by sponsor Sela.
Newcastle United players, including Alexander Isak, the scorer of the second goal in the final against Liverpool, take in the atmosphere as the victory parade sets off at St James’ Park
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer holds his black and white club scarf aloft as he takes to the stage as part of celebrations following the club’s Carabao Cup victory
Former Newcastle United player Alan Shearer is interviewed by Lynsey Hipgrave (left) and Pete Graves (right), presenters and fans of Newcastle United
A fan stands on the shoulders of the statue of Alan Shearer and points to the sky in imitation of the Geordie legend’s trademark goal celebration
Smoke trails from a flair as jubilant Newcastle fans mass outside the club’s ground in celebratory mood
Former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand waves to the crowd at the Carabao Cup victory celebration
Newcastle United fans and staff wave to fans as they pass on their open top bus victory parade
Thousands flocked to St James’ Park to watch the bus parade leave the stadium
A Newcastle fan sits on the shoulders of the statue of Sir Bobby Robson outside St James’ Park
Club legend Alan Shearer signed autographs before making his way inside St James’ Park
Hundreds of thousands of Newcastle supporters have gathered in the city centre to celebrate their team’s Carabao Cup win
The parade moved through through the city before stopping for an event at the Town Moor
Supporters sported their black and white shirts and posed for photos around the ground
One spectator donned football glasses with spirits high ahead of the party getting underway
Others pulled on masks of their favourite players, including Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton
A worker in a Newcastle United jersey next to a gigantic banner of victorious Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
A Newcastle fan waves a flag in the road as fans sit on an overpass to watch the open top bus parade pass
Sky Sports and Newcastle’s official YouTube channel are broadcasting the event live.
Supporters began to gather in the city’s bars and pubs before lunchtime, many donning black and white colours. Some were spotted wearing masks of players.
Today will be the squad’s first opportunity to celebrate their achievement together after a large group of senior players were forced to jet out for international duty in the hours following the win, meaning the party in the capital was kept to a minimum.
‘They haven’t been in Newcastle, so I haven’t missed that part. We will come back and celebrate with the fans now,’ Isak told Swedish publication Aftonbladet this week.
‘I think the parade will be incredible.
‘It is a bus parade and something more, when you meet the fans on a big field. I don’t know exactly how many [fans] there will be, but most of the city I think.’
Meanwhile, Howe will be awarded the freedom of Newcastle, the highest civic honour that can be bestowed by the city, after steering his side to glory. Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn were also given the esteemed award.
City council leader Karen Kilgour said she was ‘delighted’ to nominate Howe.
‘Generations of supporters have never seen their beloved club lift a domestic trophy, and under his leadership we all now have treasured memories of a truly unforgettable day,’ she said. The honour is set to be officially confirmed at a meeting later this year.
Burn has also been nominated for the Freedom of Northumberland.
