[lfc-news] The street party with a million guests - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 27 May 2005
The street party with a million guests

IT WAS the day after Liverpool's historic, headline-grabbing Champions
League victory in Istanbul - and still the party continued last night.

But this time glory and the glitz had shifted from Turkey back to the
streets of Merseyside as the city's heroes returned home to a victory
parade no-one will forget.

The team had touched down at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 4.24pm,
before setting off on a procession in front of an astonishing one
million adoring fans.

In an open top double decker bus they looked on as the streets in front
of them exploded into red and white.

It was a scene that will no doubt live with the team for the rest of
their lives as people young and old lined up to welcome them.

Fans climbed on to anything they could to catch a glimpse, using road
signs, traffic lights and, in some cases, police surveillance vans to
make sure they could see the squad.

And, as they snaked their way along the route through Queens Drive, past
Anfield stadium and into the city centre where they stopped St
George's's Plateau, it was quite clear that the entire community had
come together to shout, dance and simply voice their overwhelming
feelings of joy.

From the rapturous scenes that could be viewed what was not in doubt
was that Liverpool FC was back with the best of world sport. The city
may have been crowned Capital of Culture for 2008, but this year it is
undoubtedly the holder of another title, Capital of Football 2005.

Yesterday had started as a bit of blur for most following Liverpool FC's
game against AC Milan. But even though Wednesday night had been a time
of partying no one was quite ready to move down a notch from the
ecstatic feelings of the night before.

With the world's media focusing its attention on the city, praise
flooded in for Steven Gerrard and the rest of the players.

Even the Queen added her support, saying in a statement:
"Congratulations on your remarkable win last night. It was a magnificent
achievement which will be remembered for many years both in Liverpool
and across the country."

Hours later, more than 750,000 people lined the route of the parade
while a further 300,000 were in and around William Brown Street where
the procession came to an end.

Along the way little boys sat on their fathers' shoulders alongside
babies dressed in Liverpool romper suits. Grandmothers waved flags on
their front lawns while people kitted out their pet dogs in the team's
colours.

And children, having freshly dyed their hair, banged on the bus with
red-stained hands.

On Queen's Drive, near the start of the route, two young girls in white
lace dresses held a banner proclaiming: "Today was our communion party,
but we'd rather party with you."

The parade had started at around 7pm at the Rocket flyover on Queens Drive.

As cars passed underneath, drivers sounded their horns even before the
players had arrived.

The clatter of helicopters overhead mingled with a few disparate chants
among the supporters.

Then the bus came into sight, followed by the Liverpool squad in a coach
with blacked-out windows.

As they began to board, the helicopter blades, whistles, horns and
chants seemed to get louder, culminating in a deafening crescendo as
Gerrard, Garcia, Riise and Carragher took their places at the front of
the top deck.

But loud though this was it was nothing compared to the scenes at
Anfield where the deafening noises reached their peak.

As children clambered onto the Paisley Gateway, the crowds broke out
into choruses of You'll Never Walk Alone.

And the bus started bouncing up and down as the squad began rocking in
time with the chanting.

It was hard to imagine that less than 24 hours earlier, these supporters
were vainly hoping for a miracle as Liverpool went into half time 3-0 down.

But perhaps it was the roller coaster ride of emotions they went through
during the game that made this victory even more special.

"This is the most amazing day of my life," said mature student Jan
Jones,, 46, from Dovecot.

"I've supported them all my life, and it doesn't get any better than
this. This is the best place to be in the world at the moment."

AFTER passing Anfield, the parade continued through Everton Valley and
on to Scotland Road. Along the way, banners showed a mixture of messages
expressing fans' feelings for the squad.

"Thank you" was the simple wording on a red rosette held high above the
crowds while another tribute read: "Who needs Toffees when you can have
Turkish delight?"

Elsewhere, One man carried a yellowing flag, marked with "Wembley '86".

By the time the bus entered the city centre, at around 9.30pm, it was
getting dark and Liverpool's most monumental buildings around William
Brown Street were lit up.

There crowds burst in to cheers and song as the team gave the trophy a
final viewing. Student Jason Wallbank, 34, from Greasby, Wirral, was at
St George's Plateau, watching with friends.

He said: "It has been an absolutely fantastic day. It's just what the
city needs. Everyone seems to have come together to celebrate."

Near him was marketing executive Christina Sam, 27, who had travelled
from London with her partner, Richard Doherty, 25, a web designer.

She said: "This is a once in a lifetime experience. It's something we
will always remember, and it's something to tell the grandchildren about.

"The fact that you're so close to them is amazing. They are celebrities,
but they're accessible to everyone."

Following the parade Merseyside Police paid tribute to the fans.

Area commander for the city Chief Superintendent Andy Ward said: "Crowds
tonight have been extremely patient and good-natured, which has eased
the pressure of a massive policing operation.

"We'd like to thank the public for their support tonight. It's been a
great event for the city, and its success is testimony to everyone's
pride in the region's achievements.

"Officers along the route have also worked extremely hard to make sure
the parade went smoothly. My thanks also goes to them."

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