West Ham United’s heroes will return from their triumphant night in Prague to a victory celebration in the streets of east London on Thursday evening.
The playing squad and coaching staff will parade the Club’s first major trophy since 1980 on a specially-commissioned open top bus, travelling from the Hammers’ old home at Upton Park to a reception at Stratford Town Hall.
Wednesday night’s historic victory over ACF Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League final has delivered the first European trophy to east London since the legendary West Ham team starring Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Alan Sealey won the Cup Winners’ Cup at Wembley in May 1965.
In the celebrations that followed that triumph, Moore and his team-mates greeted tens of thousands of supporters from the roof of their parade bus, before the captain held the trophy aloft from the balcony of East Ham Town Hall, standing alongside the Mayor of Newham.
Almost 60 years on, the new generation of trophy-winning Hammers heroes will pay tribute to their predecessors in our heartland, starting the parade at the junction of Green Street and Barking Road, adjacent to the Boleyn Pub and The Champions Statue.
The parade will then proceed west along Barking Road, turn right onto Greengate Street, and continue slowly along the A112 past Plaistow Park, Plaistow Station and Stratford Park, before ending its journey on West Ham Lane, outside the Old Town Hall in Stratford – at the heart of our home borough of Newham and where our current home resides.
The Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz will be there to welcome the squad, just like her predecessor in 1965, and Hammers skipper Declan Rice will hold the trophy aloft in front of the Claret & Blue faithful.
It promises to be a party that no-one present will ever forget, after a victory that will be forever etched in the history of West Ham United, and in the record books of European football.
The Club welcomes every West Ham fan who is able to be there to line the streets, and give a heroes’ welcome to the Boys of Prague on what is set to be an evening of unforgettable celebrations and hopes that those following us from afar can enjoy following the scenes here on whufc.com and our digital channels.
West Ham United Joint-Chair David Sullivan said: “I could not be more proud of this magnificent football club. Proud of how far we have come over the last decade. Proud of the manager, the backroom team, and all the staff, who have done a fantastic job. And proud of all the players, from our amazing home-grown talent, to our brilliant international stars, who have given us a night and a triumph that will live forever.
“But most of all, I want to pay tribute to the Hammers fans, the Claret & Blue Army, who have once again shown they are the best in the world. They have been incredible this season. Packing out the London Stadium match after match, creating an atmosphere home and away that is second to none, and showing teams all over Europe how massive this Club is.
“When we moved to the new ground, we dreamed of moments like this. Our task now is to build on this triumph, and the double-winning feats of our Under-18 Academy team, ensuring that every time our men and women start a new season in West Ham United colours, they are competing for more success.
“But for now, it is time to celebrate. It will be fantastic to see Hammers fans from across London fill the streets to welcome our heroes back from Prague, and all our supporters over land and sea join the party on our Club channels. This trophy belongs to you, and it will be fantastic to all share in the moment.
“Sadly of course, there is one man who will not be there, someone who did so much to help deliver this success to our Club, and – in all the joy and excitement of the victory – the one thing I missed was being able to turn to him, see his smile, and shake his hand. But I know how proud he would have been too. This is for you, DG – our dreams beginning to come true.”
The parade bus sets off at 7pm BST, making its way to Stratford Town Hall around 8pm BST, but timings will inevitably change depending on the size of the crowd.
The Club advises all attendees to bring bottles of water to stay hydrated on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year and spread out right along the parade route to enable as many people as possible to get the best possible view of the playing squad, the coaching staff and – most importantly – the gleaming new addition to West Ham’s trophy cabinet.
Let’s give our history-makers the welcome home that they deserve.
