Joy and lightning at Manchester City's jubilant Treble parade
This past weekend, Noel Gallagher himself poetically declared that Manchester rain will surely taste like champagne in the wake of Manchester City's triumphant 1-0 victory against Inter Milan.
From the jubilant looks on the faces around me, it really does feel as though somebody has shaken an enormous magnum over the city.
It’s a steel grey evening after days of glorious sunshine, but all around me is a sea of sky-blue shirts, flags, and bucket caps. In many ways, it feels as though I've walked into a microcosm of what it might look like if England were to win the World Cup in my lifetime.
Nearly 25 years after rivals Manchester United achieved the same feat, Manchester City has brought home the Treble, firmly establishing themselves as sporting giants of Europe. As one particularly gleeful fan on the tram put it, "who the f*** are Man United?"
The city was a sea of sky blue this evening (Julia Banim)I seek a few minutes of shelter from the downpour under a tree beside Joel, from Wythenshawe, South Manchester, a lifelong City fan who saw the incredible victory unfold at an event in Manchester on Saturday, surrounded by City fans.
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Like many fans, Joel admits he "never thought it would happen", hailing City's historic accomplishment as "brilliant".
Reflecting on who he's most excited to see out of the team, Joel grinned: "The trophy! The Champion's League trophy."
Many City fans believed it could 'never' happen for them (Julia Banim)The parade has been delayed slightly due to adverse weather conditions, and the building anticipation is increasingly palpable as I nudge myself further into the crowds.
Chants of "Rodri's on fire" ring throughout the crowds, as does, of course, plenty of enthusiastic renditions of Oasis songs. Queen's We Are The Champions is naturally another apt favorite this evening.
It's hard to get a good spot, and I find myself trailing after 6ft supporters who can weave a path far more easily than I could.
Particularly keen and daring fans can be seen standing on slippery bins, and even hauling themselves up onto bus shelter roofs in order to get a better peek but I don't go that far.
Most supporters I come across couldn't be friendlier, although there was one rather rude man who used my shoulders as a sort of footstool to pull himself up on a bus stop. Thankfully, others gave him a bit of a telling off, as I was too shocked to respond.
The Mirror also spoke with Bill from Marple, who remarked that he felt "very proud" to be there amongst his fellow City supporters.
Considering what he hopes for next for the team, Bill said: "Not really bothered now! We've done it, we're happy. Let's carry on playing football. If we win, we win, if we don't we don't!"
Crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the team (Julia Banim)
For many, this victorious moment was the 'pinnacle' for City supporters (Julia Banim)This sentiment appears to be shared by many supporters. The team has more than proven itself with this enormous accomplishment and now feels like the perfect time to look back and bask in hard-won glory for a moment before pushing forward once more.
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At the parade stage show near St Peter's Square, fans await the arrival of the victorious team with makeshift brollies and building excitement, erupting with pure joy when the team finally takes to the stage.
James from Chorley told the Mirror that he was full of "nerves" ahead of Saturday's match, and, like Joel, thought it could never happen.
Adding that he although he'd love for City to do it all over again, he knows this is "the pinnacle of it really", a sentiment held by so many City fans heading home with pride this evening, full of hope for what the future will bring next.
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