Thousands of fans cheer on Cobblers' champions as bus parade passes through Northampton

The open top bus parade from Sixfields to the Guildhall celebrating Northampton Town’s being crowned league champions was met by rapturous cheering and singing in the town centre.

The crowds started gathering before 3pm in the Market Square and as the numbers grew towards 4pm a carnival atmosphere developed with deafening singing and chanting from the fans young and old.

Waiting to cheer on there champion team was Daniel Hooper. He said: “It amazing. I’ve been to every home game and missed only five or six away. It’s been a great season and today it just fantastic. I was here in ‘97 and it reminds me of then.”

Dane Freeman said: “From being almost out of it in October to actually come at the top by a wide gap is just brilliant.

“It’s almost like a fairy tale.”

Robbin James said: “I’ve followed Cobblers for some 40 years. I’ve only got one good leg, but I wanted to come and stand with the rest of the fans in the town centre today.

“It’s brilliant – absolutely brilliant.

“When I first started following Cobblers they were at the County Ground and I was a steward there. I was also a cleaner at Sixfields, and I’m so happy to see them do so well.”

Diane Fitzgerald said: “I’m ‘appy!

“I don’t think we realised until around Christmas time the effect this season was having on us.

“It’s been an emotional one, but they came good on the pitch in the end.

“I just happy we’ve got Chris Wilder and all the other staff. I hope they can hold the team together for next year.”

The buses left Sixfields at 4pm and made their way into the town centre. The route was lined with fans beeping car horns, waving flags and cheering from windows.

But it was in the town centre that the biggest crowds had gathered.

With the two open top buses approaching the town centre the crowds swelled and the singing grew in volume until as the fans first glimpsed the team it became a deafening roar of victory songs.

After doing a lap of honour around the Market Square the buses stopped supposedly for speeches to be made, but it quickly emerged that the staff and players on top of the bus would rather sing and celebrate alongside their fans, and they led the crowds in song, brandishing the cup aloft.

Speaking to the Chronicle on the bus Cobblers’ chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “It’s just amazing. Just looking out and seeing these crowds of people who have come out to cheer the team.

“It fantastic to be able to do something like this to say thank you to the fans.”

Speaking to the crowd he thanked the fans for their support over the years and during the past season. He also thanked the staff, and of course the players, ending by saying: “It is just a wonderful celebration – well done!”

After the Market Square the buses made the short journey to the Guildhall where the team was welcomed by leader of Northampton Borough Council Cllr Mary Markham and other dignitaries, before attending a civic reception in honour of the club’s achievements this season.