Bristol City draw tens of thousands to victory celebration

Football News 24/7

A huge crowd greeted the team who went on a victory parade which took them from the team's home at Ashton Gate to the centre of the city and on to the Harbourside.

A huge roar greeted the team when they arrived for the presentation at the Amphitheatre.

Two buses carried the players and staff and were adorned with banners which read "Congra­tula­tions to the Robins. Thank you for your support, we will see you next season"

The procession included two open top buses, an extra coach full of staff and two police cars.

Manager Steve Cotterill said he was thrilled with how the season had gone and was humbled by the celebrations.

In front of the crowd, he said: "Thank you very much for turning up. This success is down to this row of boys here."

Mr Cotterill added: "This football club has had a lot of down time in the last few years. Luckily, it has turned around. Going forward, Ashton Gate needs to be filled every week.

"We are a young team that has to adjust to Championship football."

Alongside the players was businessman Steve Lansdown - the majority shareholder at the club - and his son Jon.

Mr Lansdown was on one of the first of the buses at the Amphitheatre. The crowd roared their approval as the billionaire businessman hoisted the League One trophy into the air.

Crowds packed the route and thousands were crammed into the Amphitheatre half an hour before their heroes were due to turn up for the presentations.

There was little room to move and the nearby Food Connections street market in Millennium Square was doing a roaring trade.

The bright bank holiday sunshine saw hundreds lining the streets of Bedminster and around the Ahston Gate stadium.

LK