West Ham fans watch their Europa Conference League champions’ jubilant open-top bus parade

Here come the champions! West Ham fans swarm the streets of east London to celebrate Europa Conference League glory as stars arrive back home from Prague for open-top bus victory parade

Fans have lined the streets to watch West Ham’s open-top bus parade celebrating their Europa Conference League victory on Wednesday night. 

David Moyes’ side beat Fiorentina 2-1 at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, with Jarrod Bowen providing a 90th-minute winner to see the Hammers clinch their first European trophy in 58 years. 

The club confirmed that they would host a parade for their champions after the final whistle, in a route through east London which mimics that taken by Sir Bobby Moore’s side after they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. 

The parade was due to start at 7pm, and see the players make their way from the old Upton Park site to Stratford Town Hall. 

The planned procession also celebrates the achievements of the club’s youth side, who have had a blistering season winning the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League. 

Supporters craned for a glimpse of the Europa Conference League-winning stars after their triumphant return to east London

Fans gathered in their number to welcome the side back from Prague after Wednesday's win

Fans gathered in their number to welcome the side back from Prague after Wednesday’s win

Fans celebrated their first major trophy in 43 years in the sunshine on Thursday evening

Fans celebrated their first major trophy in 43 years in the sunshine on Thursday evening

Co-chairman David Sullivan stressed that the club would seek to ‘build on this triumph’ next season in a jubilant message shared with supporters after the victory.

‘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,’ Sullivan said.

‘This trophy belongs to you, and it will be fantastic to all share in the moment.’

Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice were two superstars to stop and sign autographs are they prepared to get onto the bus and start the parade.  

Jarrod Bowen was one of the first players pictured making his way onto the open-top bus

Jarrod Bowen was one of the first players pictured making his way onto the open-top bus 

The match winner stopped to sign autographs on the shirts of a number of young fans

The match winner stopped to sign autographs on the shirts of a number of young fans

Supporters decked out with brightly coloured flags lined the parade route in east London

Supporters decked out with brightly coloured flags lined the parade route in east London

Supporters craned for a good view of the bus, which was planned to leave the old Upton Park site at 7pm

Supporters craned for a good view of the bus, which was planned to leave the old Upton Park site at 7pm

The West Ham captain is believed to have played his last match in claret and blue, having received interest from a number of top sides including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Manchester United. 

The pair were joined by Michail Antonio, who earlier claimed that the victory demanded ‘at least three weeks’ of partying. 

Youth starlet Divin Mubama shared footage en route to the start of the parade, which showed gathered fans in high spirits waving flags, lighting flares, and cheering their heroes. 

Declan Rice was also greeted by young fans keen to catch a glimpse of the Hammers captain

Declan Rice was also greeted by young fans keen to catch a glimpse of the Hammers captain

Michail Antonio said that the side were preparing to party for 'three weeks' after the win

Michail Antonio said that the side were preparing to party for ‘three weeks’ after the win

One fan carried an on-the-nose prop in the form of an enormous claret and blue hammer

One fan carried an on-the-nose prop in the form of an enormous claret and blue hammer

Mail Sport reported on Wednesday evening that ahead of kick-off, West Ham had painted a bus commemorating a potential win to ensure they weren’t caught out should Moyes’ side beat the Coppa Italia finalists.

Atop the bus, players such as Said Benrahma, Alphonse Areola, and Nayef Aguerd were seen laughing and pointing out sights in the crowd belown on the sunny June evening.   

Morocco international Aguerd was draped in his national flag, whilst several of the players sported club scarves. 

Midfielder Pablo Fornals sported a branded bucket hat and brandished a bubble machine in a playful tribute to the club’s anthem, ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’.  

When the players and the coaching staff reach Stratford Town Hall, they will be greeted by the Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz, and Rice will lift the trophy on the building’s balcony. 

The players looked to be enjoying their parade in on a sunny June evening in the capital

The players looked to be enjoying their parade in on a sunny June evening in the capital

Crowds were several rows of supporters deep as Hammers fans clamoured to watch the bus pass them by

Crowds were several rows of supporters deep as Hammers fans clamoured to watch the bus pass them by

The route is expected to take an hour, but the size of the crowds might slow the bus' pace

The route is expected to take an hour, but the size of the crowds might slow the bus’ pace

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