Leeds United promotion parade sees thousands pack city centre

Summary

An open-top bus parade celebrating Leeds United's return to the Premier League passed through the city centre
Tens of thousands of celebrating fans lined the mile-long route
The parade took in the full length of City Square, Boar Lane, New Market Street, The Headrow and parts of Wellington Street and Vicar Lane
The Whites' promotion was confirmed on Easter Monday as they beat Stoke City 6-0 and picked up the Championship with a last-gasp win over Plymouth on Saturday

Live Reporting

Thanks for joining uspublished at 15:56 British Summer Time
Image source, Jonny Buchan/BBC
That's the end of our live coverage of Leeds United's promotion parade.
There's more on Look North plus in-depth coverage of the club, promotion and summer on Radio Leeds.
You could even subscribe to the sports team's Don't Go to Bed Just Yet podcast which is all about the Whites.
We'll leave you with the scene on The Headrow after the parade passed through.
Get that cleared up and then I'm sure thoughts will turn to the Premier League and summer signings.
How many fans?published at 15:48 British Summer Time
Image source, PA Media
We've just heard from Leeds City Council about the numbers of people on the city's streets today.
Local authority estimates put the number of fans in town at about 150,000.
Just as well there are plans to make Elland Road a bit bigger!
It's all overpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time
The bus has finished making its way through the centre of Leeds and is now making its way out of town. What a day. Here's some of the best photos.
Image source, PA Media
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The city centre was turned into a sea of blue, yellow and white for the promotion party
Image source, PA Media
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Fans of all ages lined the streets for the celebrations
Image source, PA Media
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Daniel Farke's side sealed the Championship title with 100 points on Saturday.
Image source, PA Media
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The Championship trophy was paraded through town as the buses made their way through the city centre
Image source, PA Media
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Fans of all shapes and sizes came out in force to celebrate with their heroes
Where? There? Flare!published at 15:13 British Summer Time
Eleanor Ingleby
BBC News, Yorkshire
The pyro party ratcheted up a notch as the team parade moved onto The Headrow.
Huge crowds lined both sides of one of Leeds's best-known streets.
They may be under the smoke captured in this video.
They sound in fine voice wherever they are.
All Leeds aren't we?published at 15:04 British Summer Time
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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A contender for Leeds United's youngest fan gets in on the action
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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The canine supporters' club were also represented at the parade
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Several generations of Leeds fans have turned out for the celebrations
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Supporters have been catching a glimpse of the buses wherever they can
'Once a White, always a White'published at 14:45 British Summer Time
Mother and daughter Christene and Robin drove three-and-a-half hours from Colchester to make the parade.
Christene is a lifelong Whites fan and attended the 1975 European Cup final with her dad as a young girl.
"Today was a must," she said.
"Once a White, always a White."
Image source, Jess Bayley/BBC
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Mother and daughter Christene and Robin have ventured up from Essex for the promotion party
Promotion party in full swingpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time
Steve Jones
BBC News, Yorkshire
Image source, PA Media
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Space is at a premium in Leeds city centre this afternoon
Image source, PA Media
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The city centre has been transformed into a sea of blue, yellow and white for the celebrations
Image source, PA Media
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Fans are out in force for the promotion party
Ready to go on The Headrowpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time
Image source, Eleanor Ingleby/BBC
Fans have left City Square with many streaming up to The Headrow to get a second glance at their heroes.
It's filling up there now - particularly close to the Town Hall and city art gallery.
The buses will be there in a few minutes.
The players are herepublished at 14:13 British Summer Time
The three buses carrying the players and staff made their way into City Square to jubilant scenes.
Image source, PA Media
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The promotion party is well and truly under way in the centre of Leeds
Image source, PA Media
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Daniel Farke's Leeds United are back in the top flight
Image source, PA Media
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Thousands have lined the city's streets to celebrate
Image source, PA Media
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'All Leeds aren't we' is one of the many songs blaring out as the players make their way through town
Farke's 'firebeasts' and other reasons to be cheerfulpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds commentator
Image source, PA Media
There is much to look forward to because by clinching promotion in the regular season Leeds can steal a march on their rivals by having clarity over their divisional status.
Now the recruitment can begin and the riches the Premier League brings will facilitate the expansion of the stadium which the council and club owners have heralded.
But first people can pour onto the streets and into the bars around Leeds and behave like "firebeasts" - like Daniel Farke has promised - as they await an open-top bus parade with silverware on display to crawl through its centre.
The Leeds supporters have made it clear where their allegiance lie with a vocal vote of confidence in Farke to lead them through the Premier League next season - which club chairman Paraag Marathe has now confirmed.
Media caption,
Listen: Chairman Paraag Marathe says Daniel Farke will manage Leeds United in the Premier League.
This is what City Square looked likepublished at 13:50 British Summer Time
Wow.
The scene on the groundpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time
Oli Constable
BBC Yorkshire in City Square
Image source, PA Media
The air is thick with flares, and everywhere you look is a sea of yellow and white.
Whoever has been selling the bucket hats has made a fortune.
Outside the Trinity shopping centre, it is packed with people of all ages craning to see when the bus will arrive. Flags are waving and people are dancing on top of the bus stops - it’s a party and the whole city seems to be invited.
'The Whites are going up!'published at 13:32 British Summer Time
It's getting loud in Leeds city centre as the open-top bus makes its through City Square!
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Leeds topped the 2024/25 Championship table with 100 points
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Fans young and old are lining the city's streets
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Leeds last played in the top flight in 2023
'Marching on together' rings outpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time
The Leeds United anthem rings out as the buses which form the parade get nearer to City Square.
The air is thick with smoke from flares as people hail their heroes.
Leeds players bounce up and down on the top deck of the buses, they are clad in team hats, shirts, flags and more.
They are waving, singing and joining in with fans.
The parade hasn't reached its official start yet.
It's wonderful chaos.
Bus near to start of routepublished at 13:19 British Summer Time
Image source, Jonny Buchan/BBC
The buses, complete with team and staff, is almost at the start of the route at City Square.
It's fair to say it's a proper turnout from the people of Leeds.
Season's support has been 'unparalleled'published at 13:10 British Summer Time
Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds commentator
Image source, PA Media
The supporters have been immense and none moreso than on the final weekend of the season when Devon was invaded by Leeds fans with or without tickets for the grand finale.
It’s been evident that the players and manager have had the bit between their teeth to deliver for the fans not only after last season’s play-off final disappointment but because of the inability to celebrate their last promotion communally due to coronavirus.
The atmosphere at Elland Road and on the road has been unparalleled at times this season, and the decibel levels have been ear-shattering.
Never underestimate the force of the Leeds crowd to not only support but to demand that those wearing the shirt deliver under the huge pressure of expectation.
'Shoes off if you love Leeds'published at 13:00 British Summer Time
Image source, PA Media
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Jubilant fans are getting into the party spirit in Leeds city centre
Image source, PA Media
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Leeds are celebrating their return to the top flight of English football after a two-year absence
Image source, PA Media
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Thousands of fans have packed the city centre's streets for the parade
Image source, PA Media
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Some fans are enjoying a VIP view of the celebrations
They predict a riotpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time
Jonny Buchan
BBC Radio Leeds sports editor
This was the scene in City Square an hour ago.
Thousands of fans belt out the Kaiser Chiefs anthem I Predict a Riot.
The tune has become synonymous with the club, including a powerful airing when the team clinched promotion against Stoke.
Media caption,
Leeds United fans sing Kaiser Chiefs anthem
So different to last timepublished at 12:48 British Summer Time
Image source, PA Media
Non-Leeds United fans may be wondering why this is such a big deal after the club were so recently in the top flight.
Well, Leeds were Championship winners in 2020 - but that was in the middle of Covid restrictions.
The rules at the time saw empty grounds and a ban on people gathering.
There was a celebration which saw some fans at the ground, despite the rules, but this year's public celebration aims to offer fans a chance to celebrate with each other and the team- which they were denied due to coronavirus.
Fans lining the streetspublished at 12:47 British Summer Time
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Rachel, her eight-year-old daughter Millie, Caroline and Heather are in the party spirit
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Sarah Mitchell (second from right), Jeff Dawkins (third from left), Kieran, aged 10 and Sheila Mitchell (left)
Image source, Oli Constable/BBC
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Valerie Leon, 35, from Connecticut, and her partner Matt Himsworth, 33. The couple have been together since 2019, with Valerie, 35, calling Leeds her home since 2021
Image source, Cathy Killick/BBC
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City Square just after 11:30 - 90 minutes before the parade gets under way