Northampton Saints celebrate Premiership win with parade

Summary

Northampton Saints celebrated their first Premiership title since 2014 with a trophy parade through the town
Thousands of fans lined the streets
Celebrations started from Cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens at 14:00 BST
The parade finished at the Guildhall in St Giles Square in the town

Live Reporting

Alice Cunningham, Harriet Heywood and James Burridge

'We are so happy to be here and see this'published at 14:49 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Aleksandra Malecka and Ben Francis are in the crowd at the Guildhall.
Mr Francis said the past 24 hours had been "amazing".
"It has been 10 years and it was a bit of a stress to watch it on TV yesterday. We didn’t know what would happen, but we are so happy to be here and see this."
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
Image caption,
Aleksandra Malecka and Ben Francis are right in the middle of the celebrations
Thousands are welcoming the victorious teampublished at 14:45 9 June
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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Standing room only at the Guildhall - thousands of fans celebrate with the Saints
'We are the champions'published at 14:43 9 June
The crowds are singing the Queen rock classic "We are the Champions" as the players show off their trophy.
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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The open-top bus parade has arrived at the Guildhall in Northampton
And the crowd goes wild!published at 14:41 9 June
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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The players are loving the crowds in the Guildhall
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Saints players show off the gleaming trophy
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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The atmosphere is wild in the town centre
'Oh when the Saints go marching in....'published at 14:34 9 June
Media caption,
Supporters sing When The Saints Go Marching In
'Come on you Saints'published at 14:34 9 June
The players on the bus are lifting the trophy, displaying it to the hundreds of fans below.
Our BBC Radio Northamptonshire colleagues have described the atmosphere as "electric".
The crowd is chanting "shoe army" and "come on you Saints!"
Parade arrives at the Guildhallpublished at 14:32 9 June
And they are here!
The crowds are screaming at the top of their lungs as the buses make their way into the area.
The flags are waving and the players are loving it!
Do you need a smaller shirt, sir?published at 14:31 9 June
Image source, Carroll Weston/BBC
Image caption,
The pups are out in force in Northampton, helping celebrate the Saints
Crowds sing and wave flags ahead of Northampton Saints' arrivalpublished at 14:29 9 June
Media caption,
Crowds sing and wave flags ahead of Northampton Saints' arrival
Blow your trumpet if you're a happy Saints fanpublished at 14:29 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Live music is making Northampton's party go with a swing
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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This is a trumpet player with very good balance - perhaps Saints should give him a trial!
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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The players will be serenaded when they arrive at the Guildhall by 14:30
Anyone for a dance?published at 14:26 9 June
The live music at the Guildhall has got going and the atmosphere is electric!
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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Blowing their trumpets, and other brass instruments, for the Saints
Northampton town centre is alive!published at 14:25 9 June
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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Fans are cheering their hearts out for the players
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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It is packed in Northampton town centre
Image source, James Burridge/BBC
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Fans have their flags at the ready
The parade is almost at the Guildhallpublished at 14:24 9 June
Our colleagues at BBC Radio Northampton, who are with the buses, have reported the players are just five minutes away from the Guildhall.
People are watching on from various vantage points.
'If we believe we are champions, we can carry on playing like champions'published at 14:23 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
"I went yesterday. It was an amazing atmosphere and the support and noise was electric," said 42-year-old Rishi, who is with his wife Sharada, 41, and their two children Arin, 7, and Elam, 5.
"I think we have another one in us and need to keep operating at this level and believe in ourselves.
"If we believe we are champions we can carry on playing like champions."
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
Image caption,
Sharada and Rishi - with their children Arin, 7, and Elam, 5 - join the celebrations
The buses and players are on their waypublished at 14:17 9 June
Image source, Northampton Saints
Image caption,
The Saints have their medals and winning t-shirts on - and some are sporting shades too!
Who's your favourite player Ivy? Alex Woofler? Callum Barkley?published at 14:11 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, in Northampton
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
Image caption,
Ivy the dog is ready to celebrate
Lawrence the heropublished at 14:09 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Danny Bichener almost did not get to the match on Saturday for various reasons, but thanks to heroic Lawrence McKenzie-Mockridge, his fate changed.
"We had tickets for the match and then we got stuck with no way of getting there," Mr Bichener explained.
Mr McKenzie-Mockridge took it upon himself to sort a coach to send the group on their way to the match. “[Lawrence] is the best and wouldn’t even accept any money we offered as a thank you," added Mr Bichener.
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
Image caption,
Danny Bichener (second from the right) and his party were able to see the match thanks to Lawrence McKenzie-Mockridge (white t-shirt)
A Saints-themed wedding cake anyone?published at 14:03 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, reporting in Northampton
Emma and Richard, mum and dad to Harrison and Connor, who have been supporters for 26 years, proved their love for the club by having a Saints-themed wedding cake.
“It was half Saints, half traditional - and we had all the backs of the chairs and table decorations matching the theme," Emma said.
“I think it was expected of me at that point and it worked really well."
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Emma and Richard have supported the Saints for years
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
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Emma and Richard decided to have a Saints-themed wedding cake to show their love for the club
Moments left until the parade gets under waypublished at 14:00 9 June
There are just a few minutes to go until the buses leave cinch Stadium and make their way through the town.
Get your voices ready to cheer!
‘We have come prepared’published at 13:58 9 June
Harriet Heywood
BBC News, in Northampton
Kerry and her family have thought ahead for the celebrations at the Guildhall.
“We are festival-goers, so we have come prepared with our chairs because we know a lot about waiting at the barriers,” she said.
Along with her husband Tim, 51, daughter Ellie, 18, and son Archer, 13, Kerry enjoyed the game at Twickenham.
“Archer is desperate to see Courtney Lawes before he goes so we have come here early… although I don’t know what state they will all be in by the time they get here.”
Image source, Harriet Heywood/BBC
Image caption,
Kerry, Tim, Archer and Ellie made sure they were decked out with chairs for the celebrations at the Guildhall