- Sunday, September 24, 2023
They defeated Fiorentina in Prague to win the Europa Conference League
By: Chandrashekar Bhat
West Ham United will take out a victory parade in east London on Thursday (8), a day after they won the Europa Conference League.
Forward Jarrod Bowen’s dramatic 90th-minute goal secured them their first major European trophy since 1965 with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the final in Prague on Wednesday (7).
It is the second European trophy for the Hammers after they won the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup 58 years ago with a team including England World Cup heroes Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore.
It is also their major trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 1980.
Their players and coaching staff will parade their latest trophy from 7 pm on a specially-commissioned open top bus from Upton Park to Stratford Town Hall.
It will pass through Barking Road, Greengate Street and the A112 and move past Plaistow Park, Plaistow Station and Stratford Park before culminating on West Ham Lane.
Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz will welcome the squad and Hammers skipper Declan Rice will hold the trophy aloft in front of the Claret & Blue fans, the east London club said in a statement.
It, however, warned that the timings would “inevitably change depending on the size of the crowd”.
West Ham joint-chair David Sullivan said it would be “fantastic to see Hammers fans from across London fill the streets to welcome our heroes back from Prague.”
While showering praise on the players who “have given us a night and a triumph that will live forever,” Sullivan also appreciated the efforts of manager David Moyes and the backroom team.
Fans are advised to bring bottles of water to stay hydrated “on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year”.
In the final, Said Benrahma had opened the scoring for West Ham as he sent a penalty past Terracciano on 62 minutes. Five minutes later, Giacomo Bonaventura levelled the score beating West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with a low right-footed effort.
Bowen, who scored the winning goal towards the end of the regulation time, told BT Sport after the match, “I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute, it’s what you always say you want to do.”
With Wednesday’s win in Prague, West Ham have also clinched a spot in next season’s Europa League.
