housands of West Ham followers poured into the streets of Prague because the soccer membership received its first trophy in additional than 40 years.
Followers danced on tables and kissed one another in pubs throughout the Czech capital as they watched the Hammers carry the Europa Convention League trophy on Wednesday night time.
Supporters chanted “2-1 to the cockney boys” as they watched on from a pub within the metropolis, with 1000’s having travelled from the UK with out tickets.
The ultimate passed off on the Fortuna Area, which has a capability of round 19,300, with West Ham receiving an official allocation of 5,000.
Supporters watched in bars across the metropolis, together with a bunch who went wild at McCarthy’s Pub within the Previous City space from the second Jarrod Bowen gave the group the lead within the closing minute of the second half.
Standing on the tables, they sang “West Ham are large in every single place we go.”
For the reason that closing whistle, West Ham followers have lined the streets of Prague chanting “West Ham are large” and shouting “Irons”, with the followers showing to be prepared for a protracted night time of celebrations.
1000’s of followers gathered within the centre of Prague’s Previous City after the ultimate whistle as supporters from the stadium and fan zone started to affix those that watched within the metropolis centre.
West Ham fan Aaron, 18, stated it felt “unreal” to win.
“It’s unreal, by no means felt prefer it in my life,” he stated.
He stated his plan for the remainder of the night time was to “stumble again to the resort”.
“How we get there I don’t care,” he added.
It got here hours after West Ham followers had been attacked by Italian supporters within the metropolis centre, prompting police to detain 16 folks.
Czech police stated three folks had been injured throughout the incident, with one police officer being attacked.
One witness stated followers of the Italian aspect had been armed with “chains and belt buckles”.
There was additionally controversy throughout the match as Cristiano Biraghi of Fiorentina was seen bleeding from the again of the pinnacle after he appeared to have been hit by an object thrown from the West Ham stand.
A fan of the London membership watching the ultimate in McCarthy’s bar stated the incident “received’t look good on West Ham”.
Shortly earlier than the tip of the match, the English membership put out a press release condemning the behaviour of a “small variety of people”, including: “These actions haven’t any place in soccer, and don’t in any method signify the values of our soccer membership and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who’ve behaved impeccably in Prague this week and all through our final two seasons in European competitors.”
The membership stated it might work with police to assessment the incident and take motion in opposition to offenders, together with implementing lifetime bans.
A West Ham fan who attended the membership’s final European closing in 1976 stated he was feeling “speechless” because the Hammers received 2-1 in opposition to Fiorentina in Prague.
Mark Sullivan, 57, from Hackney, north-east London, who was simply 9 when he attended West Ham’s final European closing, the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976, stated he was “speechless” following the end result.
Mr Sullivan, who attended the 1976 sport along with his late father Pat, watched the match on Wednesday on the London Stadium along with his 16-year-old son Jack.
He instructed the PA information company: “All of us thought it was going to further time, so to have the purpose come out of the blue – having to attend for the VAR test didn’t assist. However when it goes your method you get to rejoice a purpose twice.”
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