- Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 to win their first domestic trophy in 70 years
- Around 150,000 supporters are expected to take part in today’s festivities
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Newcastle United are expecting over 150,000 jubilant supporters to turn out to celebrate their sensational Carabao Cup victory at Wembley earlier this month with an open-top bus parade to take place later 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 have organised a bus parade through the city centre. The procession will leave St James’ Park before winding its way to the Town Moor, where a ticketed celebration will feature live music and interviews.
A full screening of the cup final is already underway.
Streets and buildings have been adorned in black and white ahead of the festivities 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.
Newcastle supporters have gathered in the city centre to celebrate their Carabao Cup win
Thousands flocked to St James’ Park to watch the bus parade leave the stadium
The parade will move through the city before stopping for an event at the Town Moor
Newcastle’s players and staff will depart the stadium around 4:30pm before the convoy proceeds past Haymarkets and onto the Great North Road.
The bus is expected to arrive 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.
Sky Sports and Newcastle’s official YouTube channel will broadcast 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.’
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
Club legend Alan Shearer signed autographs before making his way inside St James’ Park
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.