Newcastle transformed into sea of black and white as 150,000 fans celebrate

Newcastle’s city centre was awash in black and white as the victorious Carabao Cup final winning squad finally celebrated with their passionate supporters. Arguably the biggest event the city has witnessed in years, thousands of Toon fans flooded the streets, eagerly awaiting the arrival of an open-top bus that slowly made its way from St James’ Park to the Town Moor—where an estimated 150,000 people were set to join the festivities. Fans began gathering early in the morning, and by early afternoon, the main thoroughfare was teeming with excited onlookers.

Supporters of the Magpies traveled from all corners of the country, with some even journeying from abroad, and the crowd spanned every age group—from a baby as young as five months to long-time season ticket holders who recalled the club’s last domestic silverware in 1955. In the hours leading up to the parade, fan icons Ant and Dec were swarmed by admirers at St James’ Park, while a striking Eddie Howe tribute was unveiled on the side of the Sandman Signature Hotel by Wor Flags.

As the bus made its slow, deliberate journey through the city centre, fans scrambled for every available viewing spot—some climbing onto rooftops to wave flags, others scaling trees near the Hancock Museum. Their collective chants, cheers, and tears of joy echoed along the route, with the bus taking nearly an hour to cover the short distance of one-and-a-half miles. The players appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the moment as well, taking turns hoisting the long-awaited trophy. In particular, Dan Burn, Alexander Isak, and Kieran Trippier—the first signing under the new ownership—drew especially enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

Louise Bryant, who attended the parade with her partner and his grandson, admitted that she cried throughout the event. “We had an excellent view, and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was absolutely brilliant—everyone was singing and cheering; it was just wonderful,” she told ChronicleLive. One group of friends even brought a Swedish-inspired Alexander Isak flag to honor one of the two goal scorers from the cup final, with Jamie Boynton exclaiming, “It was a fantastic day, and that's exactly what I expected!”

Kevin from South Shields shared his disbelief, saying, “I never thought I’d witness this in my lifetime. I’ve been a fan since I was eight, and I’ve held a season ticket since 1988—I never imagined we’d win anything. When you get used to not winning, seeing it happen is brilliant. My nephew, who’s had a season ticket for just three months, has become our lucky mascot.” Ian Shearer, who traveled from Cheltenham with his son Harry, expressed optimism about future celebrations: “This is truly monumental—it’s the beginning of something great.”

In a day filled with emotion, jubilation, and a strong sense of community, Newcastle’s celebration of their historic Carabao Cup victory served as a powerful reminder of the club’s enduring spirit and the passionate support of its fans.