Soccer: Streets turn red as fans cheer treble winners

The streets of Liverpool became a sea of red today as hundreds of thousands of fans turned out to watch Liverpool FC’s treble winning victory parade.

More than 500,000 people lined the streets of the 17-mile route to watch the team, dressed in white track suit tops and navy bottoms, parade their silverware from an open-topped double decker bus.

As the bus left an old army barracks on Mill Lane, with a police escort, proud manager Gerard Houllier held aloft the UEFA cup, striker Robbie Fowler waved the FA cup and midfielder Steven Gerrard displayed the Worthington cup.

Fans, dressed in red shirts and waving red flags, stood on cars, bus stops and even the roof of McDonald’s to see the bus go by.

Team captain Jamie Redknapp said: ‘‘I have never seen anything like it. It’s unbelievable.’’

Gerrard added: ‘‘This is fantastic.’’

Fowler, who had brought along his daughter Madison, who is nearly two, grinned and waved at the screaming crowd.

One man voiced the feelings of Liverpool fans with his banner: ‘‘We ruled the 70’s, dominated the 80’s, had a break in the 90’s - and now we’re back.’’

The team’s trophy triumph was compounded yesterday by a 4-0 win over Charlton Athletic at Valley Parade ensuring them third place in the Premiership.

It has guaranteed them an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League and join Premiership winners Manchester United and second place Arsenal.

The first person to hold a cup today, as the players boarded the bus for the two and a half hour victory parade, was June Thompson, the mother of assistant manager Phil Thompson.

The 72-year-old said the team had been ‘‘fantastic’’ this season.

Her twin sister May added: ‘‘I’m made up for all the boys and all the supporters in Liverpool.

‘‘It’s a great thing to happen for Liverpool.’’

Lawrence Gallagher, 37, said he had been a Liverpool fan since he was taken as a one-year-old to watch a game.

He said: ‘‘It’s superb, it’s great to see the three cups paraded around the City today.

‘‘The challenge is back on. Manchester United has got someone to watch out for now.’’

Alan Wenham, 38, from Warrington added: ‘‘I grew up with the team in the 70s and 80s.

‘‘Being here today it’s like all these feelings running through your blood again. I feel like a teenager.’’