West Ham victory parade floods east London streets after historic win

A sea of jubilant West Ham United supporters filled the streets of east London to participate in a victory parade, celebrating the team’s first major trophy win in over four decades. The Hammers secured a 2-1 victory against Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night, with the bus carrying the players struggling to navigate the throngs of elated fans.

As the open-top double-decker bus made its way through the crowds, players set off claret and blue flares to the sound of deafening cheers. Fans climbed onto the statue of the late West Ham and England captain, Bobby Moore, and even scaled traffic lights to catch a glimpse of their victorious team. Bubbles filled the air, paying homage to the team’s famous chant, “I’m forever blowing bubbles.” West Ham United took to Twitter to share footage of the celebrations, praising their supporters as “the best fans in the world.”

This win marks the team’s first silverware since their FA Cup triumph in 1980 and their first European trophy since 1965. The historic victory, sealed by Jarrod Bowen’s 90th-minute goal, sparked wild celebrations that continued well into the night.

Captain Declan Rice, who is expected to leave the club this summer, became the third West Ham skipper after Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds to lift silverware in the club’s 128-year history. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Rice said, “When you’re a kid, and you love football as much as I do, as the lads do, you see teams have trophy parades. I was once a kid watching teams do trophy parades and to now be on one and captain the side last night, is so, so special, I can’t even put it into words, it’s not hit me yet.”

Bowen expressed that the silverware “means the world” to both the team and their fans. Manager David Moyes was spotted enjoying a beer and dancing to The Proclaimers song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” alongside players in the team’s changing room after their win.

The victory parade began at the Champions Statue, 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 at Upton Park. The parade was set to pass through Plaistow and West Ham before concluding with an event at Stratford town hall.