Ant and Dec lead Newcastle stars’ bus parade as hundreds of thousands line streets to celebrate their heroes
NEWCASTLE have celebrated ending 70 years of hurt in epic style – with the help of some familiar faces.
Geordie icons Ant and Dec led the celebrations as thousands of Toon fans lined the streets for a parade following last week’s Carabao Cup success.
Eddie Howe‘s men won their first silverware since 1955 after seeing off Liverpool at Wembley.
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Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Iska secured a historic 2-1 win and ended the Toon’s seven-decade trophy drought.
Fans hit the streets in both London and Newcastle in the hours after the match.
And tens of thousands more joined a huge bus parade on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the win.
TV stars Ant and Dec were spotted almost in tears at the Home of Football during the triumph a fortnight ago.
They bagged prime seats for the parade, joining the players on two buses as they weaved through the city centre.
Ant was heard screaming after seeing the crowds: “Look at that! This is absolute brilliant chaos.
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“We’ve got flares at the back of the bus, lads and lasses!”
A huge poster of Howe was unveiled just moments before the buses left to begin their route, hanging from a nearby building.
Fans let off flares and waved massive flags, with chants of “Shearer, Shearer!” heard outside St James’ Park.
The crowd were treated to a full match replay of the final ahead of the parade.
Newcastle players will take to a stage in the city and speak to supporters once the buses complete their one-mile route.
Ant and Dec took turns to interview the players after they first spotted the size of the crowds.
A visibly moved Jacob Murphy gasped: “t’s unbelievable. Oh my God!
“There are not too many words to describe this. It’s amazing!”
Boss Howe added: “Wow. This is just incredible.
I feel like a competition winner!
Ant McPartlin
“There’s people hanging from lamp posts and standing on bus stops.
“But we knew the people of Newcastle would come out and support us.
“Thanks to you both [Ant and Dec] for being a part of it, too.”
Ant replied: “I feel like a competition winner!”
Focusing on Newcastle’s lengthy wait for a trophy, Howe continued: “Part of your brain hopes that one day you might win something, but at the time we were in a relegation battle.
“This is beyond what we thought we could do.
“There is no other city like this one for football.”