Moyes ans Rice trophy

In Pictures: UEFA Europa Conference League celebrations hit east London!

West Ham United's UEFA Europa Conference League winning squad were given a hero's welcome as they returned to east London with the Club's newest piece of silverware. 

Manager David Moyes, captain Declan Rice, goalscorers Saïd Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen, and the squad were showered with love and appreciation by the Claret and Blue Army, who turned out in their thousands to line the streets and celebrate Wednesday's 2-1 win over ACF Fiorentina with the group.

Parading the Club's first major trophy since 1980, the Irons travelled from the Irons' former home at Upton Park to a special reception held at Stratford Town Hall.

There, the Hammers were greeted by the Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz before skipper Rice aloft in lifted the trophy in front of the gathered supporters.

"This is absolutely incredible," Rice said, as he addressed tens of thousands of cheering Claret and Blue-clad supporters. "I was once a kid watching trophy parades and now to be on one, after captaining the side last night, it's just so, so special. 

"We knew this was going to be exciting. We knew the fans were going to come out in their thousands for us, and it's hard to take it all in. It's just absolutely incredible. We don't get to experience this kind of thing so it's so important for us, and the fans, to really appreciate the moment because they don't come around very often. 

"I don't think this is going to hit me for a while, to be honest with you. But I'm going to embrace it and and enjoy it. We just want to be happy now for as long as possible."

Rice led the gathered crowd in chants and songs, while matchday host Chris Scull interviewed manager Moyes, Rice, Tomas Soucek and others on stage. 

Check out images from an amazing day in east London in the gallery above!

 

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