It promises to be a historic day on Tyneside as all those of a black and white persuasion celebrate Newcastle United's first trophy since 1969 all across the city. The Magpies' players and staff will take centre stage, with a bus journey travelling from St James' Park to the Town Moor, where more celebrations will take place alongside special guests.
As the proceedings got under way in Newcastle on Saturday, there was message from the club's co-owner, Jamie Reuben, on social media as he watched the celebrations from afar. "Wishing everyone attending the parade an amazing day," the Newcastle board member wrote on X.
Reuben's message came as a 'Quote' on top of a particularly funny video shared on the social media platform, featuring a man saying: "I f****** love Tyneside, me" as he drove his convertible car around the city in the hours before the parade celebrations got under way.
By Saturday lunchtime the streets in the city centre were already beginning to fill up, with some parking their deck chairs on the side of the road at their desired spot of the bus route. Plenty had also made their way to to St James' Park to witness the start of the parade, which was scheduled for 4.30pm.
Geordie royalty Ant and Dec will be leading the celebrations at the Town Moor - and the legendary presenting duo were mobbed by fans at the stadium at 1pm. Pete Graves and Lynsey Hipgrave will also be involved in the event, along with Alan Shearer.
Saturday is the first real time Newcastle's players have all been able to properly celebrate their Wembley achievement together. In the hours after the cup final win, many of Howe's senior stars had to jet off for international duty, meaning their partying had to be kept to a minimum in the capital.
“They [Newcastle players not on international duty] haven’t been in Newcastle, so I haven’t missed that part. We will come back and celebrate with the fans now," Alexander Isak told Swedish outlet Aftonbladet while on international duty this week.
“I think the parade will be incredible. It is a bus parade and something more, when you meet the fans on a big field. I don’t know exactly how many [fans] there will be, but most of the city I think.”
150,000 people are expected to flock to the Moor for the showpiece, with many more set to take in the bus journey at different points of the route. A giant stage situated next to the Great North Road has been erected, with special guests confirmed for the event.