Thousands join in as Newcastle celebrates English League Cup title

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Newcastle United fans watch on as the players pass by aboard an open top bus during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United fans watch on as the players pass by aboard an open top bus during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes celebrates with the Carabao cup on stage with teammates during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United’s players on board an open top bus passes by St James’ Park during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

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Former Newcastle United player Alan Shearer celebrates during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, left, and Joelinton pose with the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

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Newcastle’s head coach Eddie Howe lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

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Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe with the Carabao Cup celebrates with his team. during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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A general view during the Sela Spectacular Surprise drone light show during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Broadcasters Ant McPartlin, left and Declan Donnelly on stage during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, centre, on stage with team mates during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United’s Harvey Barnes on stage with the Carabao Cup during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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A Newcastle United fan watches on in a tree as the players pass by aboard an open top bus during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

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The open top buses carrying the Newcastle United players passes by fans outside St James’ Park, during the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United fans celebrate outside St James’ Park, ahead of the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

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Newcastle United fans celebrate outside St James’ Park, ahead of the Carabao Cup trophy parade in Newcastle, England, Saturday March 29, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Thousands of fans turned out in Newcastle on Saturday for a mass celebration of the team’s English League Cup triumph this month.

It was estimated that more than 150,000 joined the party as Newcastle held an open-top bus parade through the streets of the city.

Eddie Howe’s team ended the Premier League club’s 70-year wait for a domestic trophy after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Wembley final. But supporters had another wait for the official celebration, almost two weeks later.

The parade route ran from St James’ Park, through the city center and ended at the Town Moor, an open space where a stage was erected for an hour-long event that included a trophy lift.

Television presenters and Newcastle fans Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly joined the team on the open top bus.

The pair are best known for presenting U.K. talent show “Britain’s Got Talent” and reality series “I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!”

Saudi-backed Newcastle’s League Cup triumph was its first major domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup. The club also won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — a European competition — in 1969.

Newcastle manager Howe has been nominated for a municipal honor called the “ Freedom of the City. ” Club figures who have received the recognition include Alan Shearer, Bobby Robson and Shaka Hislop.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer