How to join the Aston Villa Europa League victory parade

PA Media

A parade to celebrate Aston Villa's Europa League final win is to be held in Birmingham on Thursday afternoon.

Villa's emphatic 3-0 victory over German team Freiburg on Wednesday night saw them win their first major European trophy since 1982.

The parade marks a quick turnaround for fans and players alike.

It is due to start at 16:30 BST on Branston Street in the Jewellery Quarter, travelling through Sand Pits, Broad Street and Centenary Square.

Aston Villa said fans would not need to travel to specific locations in the city, as screens would be positioned throughout the route.

The parade will feature three open-top buses, with the lead bus dressed in blue, carrying media, followed by a claret bus with the players. A third blue bus carrying staff will complete the convoy.

A trophy lift will also take place as the centrepiece of the parade, said the club.

There will be opportunities for supporters to engage directly with the team throughout the route, it added.

Villa said: "While the sea of claret and blue along the banks of the Bosphorus was a sight to behold, we know that it will be incomparable to the scenes in our home city of Birmingham.

"This will be an opportunity for those who missed out on being in Istanbul to be part of the team's homecoming - and we cannot wait to bring the trophy home to you.

Parade route

Aston Villa apologised to fans still in Istanbul who would not be able to join in the celebrations.

It said: "The club is grateful for the support and co-operation of the local community and authorities for accommodating the unavoidable disruption from the parade.

"We are fully aware that some supporters who made the journey to Istanbul may not be back home in time.

"For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be broadcast live on VillaTV, as well as on YouTube and across the Club's social media channels."

The parade is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes and supporters have been encouraged not to drive to the event.

The buses will set off from Branston Street at 16:30 and end on Summerhill Road at 18:00.

The parade is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes and supporters have been encouraged not to drive to the event.

A statement from the club, released after the team's win, said it explored the possibility of recreating the iconic 1982 European Cup celebrations by taking the players to Victoria Square - as well as erecting a stage in Centenary Square to allow for greater fan engagement.

But, due to ongoing works and safety concerns at Victoria Square, and advice from authorities around the risk of overcrowding at Centenary Square - both proposals were ruled out.

Aston Villa are covering all costs associated with the event.

Road closures

Birmingham City Council have implemented temporary parking suspensions and road closures across several streets in the city centre.

The below roads will be shut from 10:00 until 22:00, with parking bays on the roads suspended too:

• Branston Street
• Hall Street
• Warstone Lane
• Frederick Street
• Albion Street
• Powell Street
• Summer Hill Road
• Sand Pits
• Clement Street
• St Vincent Street
• Sheepcote Street
• Grosvenor Street West
• Ryland Street
• Broad Street
• Centenary Square

Side roads adjoining the closure area may also be affected and access to some car parks and frontages on or accessed via these roads may be restricted during the event.

Any vehicles remaining on the route could be relocated for safety reasons, said the club.

Fans have also been warned that off-street car parks along the route will be closed from 10:00, with no guarantee that vehicles will be able to exit until road closures are lifted.

Anyone needing to access their vehicles during the day are advised to park outside the affected area in advance.

Reuters

Why Thursday?

Some Villa fans have been surprised by the quick turnaround and the decision to host the parade on Thursday, rather than a weekend or the bank holiday.

In a statement, the club said the squad were due to take part in a full training session on Friday, ahead of their last Premier League fixture against Manchester City.

Birmingham Pride is also taking place over the weekend and many of the players are due to report to their international squads, ahead of the World Cup.

Villa said those factors meant Thursday was "the only viable option".

How have fans responded to the win?

Eight thousands fans in the stadium erupted in celebration the moment Aston Villa were announced winners.

John in Istanbul told the BBC the win was everything he had dreamed of.

"It was a fantastic win. Absolutely brilliant. It will be remembered for years to come."

But fans who were not in the stadium still had their moment.

Owusu Boakye Amando, head of Aston Villa supporters in Ghana, told the BBC how fans 4,000 miles away felt.

He said: "Yesterday was one of our best moments in life. What a time to support Aston Villa.

"Around 4pm in the evening, we all chanted songs and cheering up the boys. It was amazing - what a time to be alive."

Kevin Evans, from Bilston, said: "It was magical, it's a feeling I can't even describe today. I'm suffering bit - sore throat, headache, but I don't care."

Luisa Huggins from Birmingham's Westside Business Improvement District said the parade would deliver a "real boost to the local economy."

"Having this on our doorstep in Birmingham is such a huge thing and we are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming the boys.

"It has been a very quick turnaround, but everyone is excited for the parade, businesses are eagerly anticipating their arrival," the Villa fan said.

BBC Radio WM commentator Steve Hermon watched the historic moment in the stadium.

"The atmosphere in the stadium was absolutely unreal. Goosebump-inducing. The Aston Villa fans in the stadium were incredible throughout," he said

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