Blackpool FC are today holding a Promotion Parade along the promenade. Setting off from Gynn Square in North Shore at about 4:30pm, the squad will travel south along the prom, past North Pier, the Tower, Central Pier and on to one of the new headlands - Waterloo Headlands, where a stage and screen have been erected. Expected arrival is about 5:30pm with the parade due to finish by 6:00pm. The squad then move on to Bloomfield Road for the annual awards night. Sky Sports News are covering the entire parade live from 4:30pm onwards. An open-top bus will take the squad along the prom to celebrate promotion to the Premier League which will be followed by a "Premier Promenade " celebration at Waterloo Headland. The party, made up of the players, the manager and supporting staff will be greeted by the Mayor of Blackpool. And of course speeches will be made, no doubt including some words from Ollie!!! Later on the Awards Night can be followed on a blog on the official website, to keep up with all the winners of the various awards and the highlights of the evening. Check http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10432,00.html later on today!
The parade was shown live here in the states on Sky Sports News. Ollie is something else! The crowd was huge welcoming home the heroes.
They made an estimate beforehand of mayb 20,00 turning up. The police have though estimated that about 100,000 people lined the route from Gynn Square to the Waterloo Headland with around 50,000 at the Headland!! err wow.
The Blackpool Gazette video of yesterday from the Waterloo Headland. http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/60000-welcome-Pool-home.6316283.jp They reckon that a crowd of 60,000, but the police estimate was 100,000.
http://www.countytv.tv/?q=108 The Lancashire magazine coverage of the Civic Reception and Promotion Parade. As the Mayor briefly talks about, this has been the biggest thing for Blackpool as a town that I can ever remember. On Monday, 100,000 people taking over what is normally the domain of tourists (or as many prefer to call them - grockles), the Golden Mile, and it has been described as the biggest thing that has ever happened in the resort. The promenade, normally teeming with grockles was a sea of tangerine as locals took to the streets to celebrate us reaching the Promised Land. There are already loads of videos on YouTube and I will add more to the thread.
One of the best videos of the Promotion Parade. Unfortunately it does not show the full journey along the prom where thousands lined the route and the tourists were kicked off and the locals reclaimed the front! This is filmed at the Waterloo Headland where they estimate 60,000 (of the estimated 100,000 who lined the route) were congregated. It also includes Ollie in typical madcap fashion!!! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J86l2nggyyA"]YouTube- Blackpool Football Club homecoming after Wembley victory[/ame]