The Newcastle United Carabao Cup winning heroes lift the trophy on stage in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of adoring supporters on the Town Moor on Saturday 29th March 2025.
Do we really have to end these trophy celebrations? Can't they go on forever?
From the emotional cauldron that was Wembley two weeks ago to the stuffed streets of Tyneside on Saturday. Few in the black and white half of the north east are ready to wave goodbye to the feeling of euphoria that has gripped the city since Liverpool were dispatched in the capital on March 16th.
The scenes witnessed this weekend will live long in the memory. Many more accolades may arrive for this football club in the years to come but this particular 'Mickey Mouse' trophy and the subsequent celebrations that accompanied it may never be topped. They say the first time is the best and, for many, that could well prove true.
Fans, young and old, lined the pavements in and around St James' Park from the early hours of Saturday. Fathers who didn't know they had any tears left to sob after London a fortnight ago, children who know no better than to expect these types of scenes to be the norm.
Many will have been too young to remember 1969. Plenty will not even have witnessed the back-to-back runners-up parades of the late 1990s. The hope from these fans - and the mission on the mind of Eddie Howe - is that this is the first of many pots to be brought home to this part of the world.
"We hope it is just the beginning," the immortal Toon boss bellowed into the microphone in front of 150,000 fans on the city's Town Moor.
Before that [Howe and his players had taken their spaces on top a double decker and looked out onto a sea of black and white](http://Newcastle tears spotted as Eddie Howe sends passionate message at historic event). Wor Flags displays hung from windows, men hung from lampposts and the fans hung off every moment of the journey from St James' Park to the Great North Road.
There were then tears, laughs and more both on stage and in the crowd as the celebrations culminated with a special drone show courtesy of the club's front of shirt sponsor Sela. Bruno Guimaraes brought those aforementioned laughs when mocking Sunderland and singing well-known and much-loved terrace anthems in near perfect English.
Mark Gillespie, the man who has not made a competitive appearance for Newcastle under Howe, stole the microphone soon after to blare out his own songs for the crowd. Howe ensured the unsung heroes of the group were given their moment in the sun, calling members of his backroom staff to the front of the stage.
Meanwhile, each player was given their opportunity to lift the trophy and take in the applause. Alan Shearer and Bob Moncur were given the hero's welcomes they deserve, while little known music acts got their time to shine in front of a packed crowd.
It is estimated 150,000 supporters witnessed both the St James' Park procession and the following Town Moor spectacle. A historic day that has whetted the appetite for more.
"We wanted to try and bring success, happiness to everybody here, but the scenes today have just taken our breath away. A big thank you to everyone that's come and supported us," Howe added. "The loyalty, passion, devotion that you show us, and we really appreciate it. Thank you."
This was a day of celebration, executed perfectly, received brilliantly and set to be remembered forever. Until next time. Please don't make us wait another 56 years to enjoy this all over again.