Thousands of Newcastle supporters turn out to celebrate historic Carabao Cup win in style as Toon Army line the streets ahead of open-top bus parade

An estimated 200,000-plus jubilant Newcastle United supporters turned out to celebrate their sensational Carabao Cup victory at Wembley earlier this month with an open-top bus parade this afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s side ended their lengthy 70-year wait for a domestic trophy on March 16 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 first trophy since 1969, the club organised a bus parade through Newcastle city centre. 

The procession left St James’ Park at 4.30pm through streets lined with hundreds of thousands of adoring fans, the atmosphere jubilant. 

The players took in the chaotic scenes as the open top bus wound its way to the Town Moor with fans clambering on to shop roofs to get a good view of their sporting heroes – and one supporter even venturing out perilously onto the branches of a tree crossing the road to get the perfect vantage point.   

The squad took to the the stage at 6.30pm, with Newcastle superfans Ant and Dec leading a chant of ‘Toon! Toon!’

The players and staff on stage took turns lifting the cup, with the Geordie entertainers shouting encouragement and the mass of fans cheering them on.

After interviews with Eddie Howe and assistant manager Jason Tindall, club captain Bruno Guimarães led the crowd in a singalong of Hey Jude. 

Goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka then took the mic to lead a song to winger Joelinton featuring the words: ‘He’s Brazilian, he only costs £40million.’

Speaking to Toon fans Ant and Dec on stage, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: ‘It was an amazing moment when that whistle went. We were aware of the length of time since the last trophy.

‘The scenes today have taken our breath away. The loyalty, passion and devotion you show us, we really appreciate it.

‘The promise we can give is that we’ll give everything we can in every game to bring long term success to this club.’ 

A full screening of the cup final took place at 2pm this afternoon, allowing Geordies to relieve the joy of the day. 

Meanwhile Ant and Dec were spotted heading inside the chairman’s entrance at St James’ Park after posing for photos and signing autographs for supporters.

Streets and buildings were adorned in black and white ahead of the festivities, with a gigantic banner of Eddie Howe unfurled and a host of celebrity guests in attendance.

At 5pm the club hosts a Q&A with legends including the club’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer and icon Les Ferdinand. 

Shearer said: ‘We could get used to this couldn’t we? I don’t know where I am, what time it is, the past two weeks have been maybe the best of my life. It was bloody amazing.

‘This is what we all wanted, I wanted this to happen in my lifetime. Eddie Howe and the rest of the team have done our magnificent city so proud.’

He added: ‘I was lucky enough to win the Premier League with Blackburn, but two weeks ago was the best feeling I’ve ever had on a football pitch. Me and my family have been waiting for this day all our lives.’

Shearer’s father, a diehard Toon fan, passed away last year but the England forward said his father would have been ecstatic to see his beloved Newcastle finally claim a trophy.  

He said: ‘My dad was lucky enough to see them at the ’69 final [when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup] but he would have been watching from above.’

Former Newcastle striker Ferdinand said: ‘We were dubbed ‘the entertainers’, a great title to have but unfortunately we weren’t able to win anything. 

‘I think this team has got a bit more grit and determination, we might have been a bit more flamboyant but sometimes you need to be a bit more practical.

‘What’s special about this group is these set of supporters, none of these players will be supported again like this no matter where we go.’

Sky Sports and Newcastle’s official YouTube channel 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.  

Speaking to Ant and Dec earlier in the day, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: ‘It’s unbelievable, I didn’t know what to expect today, I was hoping for something really special and hoping the weather would be good, but this is incredible, absolutely mindblowing.

Seeing at times lost for words with the emotion of the day, Howe added: ‘I hoped a few people would turn up, but there’s peple hanging from lampposts, out of buildings, I hope everyone is already and stays healthy.’ 

‘When you go to a new club you never know if people will understand your character but I am who I am. The people have been brilliant, I can’t thank them enoough the way they have embraced me and my family. I’m just glad to have given them some joy.’ 

Newcastle’s players and staff set off at 4.30pm before the convoy proceeded past Haymarkets and onto the Great North Road. 

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.’

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.