Newcastle City Council release official statement on Newcastle United victory parade | OneFootball

Newcastle City Council have now released an official statement on the subject of an open top bus Newcastle United victory parade.

The official statement (see below) has been put out in the name of the leader of Newcastle City Council, Councillor Karen Kilgour.

This statement put out after claims/rumours that Newcastle City Council had blocked an open top bus Newcastle United victory parade around the city centre.

The statement from Newcastle City Council has insisted that this is not the case, that they and all other partners want United winning the trophy to be celebrated in the best possible way.

Well, I think fair to say that the what Newcastle United fans see as that best possible way of celebrating a trophy, is having an open top bus Newcastle United victory parade around the city centre.

As this morning’s poll result on The Mag of thousands of Newcastle United fans showed, only 1% of those voting were in favour of the Town Moor event as the right option to celebrate it, without any kind of an open top bus Newcastle United victory parade.

There is obviously something we are not being told by Newcastle United, Newcastle City Council, the Police, or any other ‘local partners’.

When getting promotion under Kevin Keegan in 1993 and as losing FA Cup finalists in 1998 and 1999, roads were closed and an open top bus went around Newcastle city centre. What has changed?

It is the time honoured way of celebrating a trophy win (or not, in our case, in the past!) in this country, football clubs and cities/towns up and down the country do this time after time

What is the problem here? Who is the problem?

It is 47 days now since Newcastle United concluded a 4-0 aggregate win over Arsenal and reached the final, so surely the club and all local partners have had endless meetings and discussions since then, on the subject of what happens if/when NUFC win the Carabao Cup?

They have all reached agreement on this Town Moor event, so why not the open top bus Newcastle United victory parade?

Some/all of us, finance Newcastle United, Newcastle City Council, the Police and so on, why can’t they be transparent and tell us what (or who) the big problem is, with closing some roads and letting the players ride around the city centre on an open top bus?

Newcastle City Council official statement on Newcastle United victory parade, from leader of the council, Councillor Karen Kilgour – 24 March 2025:

“Eddie Howe and his team have written themselves into Newcastle folklore, and it’s right that people want to honour them. As early as Tuesday, I’d put the wheels in motion to confer Eddie with the city’s highest honour by nominating him for Honorary Freedom of the City. I know what this means to Newcastle.

“Like all supporters, at the council we’re keen to celebrate this historic occasion and we’ve been working closely with the club, the emergency services, the Freemen and other partners to support their plans in any way we can,” Cllr Karen Kilgour said.

“Our teams have guided and advised in any way they’ve been able, we haven’t blocked the holding of a parade, and we’ve been doing our upmost to facilitate the plans the club have presented.

“The anticipated crowds for Saturday’s celebration, to mark the end of a 70-year wait for domestic silverware, are expected to make it among the biggest events ever held in the city. The safety of those attending and the local communities and businesses affected by this must be the priority of all partners involved.

“The widespread impact needs to be thoroughly assessed to ensure it can go ahead safely, but it is wrong to suggest we have said ‘no’ to a parade through our beloved city.

“Our teams will continue to liaise with the club and other partners to make this the best celebration it can possibly be to recognise the magnitude of the club’s success and, just as importantly, what it means to our city and our residents.

““We’re all keen to see a spectacular event, that is free and accessible to everybody who wishes to be part of this moment in history, and we look forward to working with partners to see further details announced as soon as they can be. As a lifelong fan I remember the parades through the city centre when we didn’t even lift a trophy. They were special memories and I want children and families in this city to have that same experience on an even bigger and better scale.”