History of football’s famous Trophy Parades : From Preston North End to Man City

By OJEIKERE AIKHOJE

 

 

 

Remoland takes centerstage on Friday as newly crowned Nigeria Premier Football League champions, Remo Stars, embark on their Trophy Parade.

In sporting terms, a Trophy Parade takes place when a group of players win a prize for the county or a team and return home with the ultimate crown.

The Trophy Parade is a traditional football ritual aimed at connecting the team with its immediate community as it celebrates its achievement.

It is a major celebration with a procession of people or vehicles moving through a public place in order to celebrate success.

It involves players and coaches moving round different parts of the community to interact and bond, thus strengthening social connections.

Positive Media Coverage is guaranteed, further amplifying the community’s achievements and attracting further interest and support.

 

Origin

These parades go back in time, to ancient Rome, where the Roman Empire celebrated the leader who was militarily victorious.

English novelist and poet, George Orwell, drew a comparison between sport and war, and hence the victory parade just sits well after a successful campaign.

Preston were the first-ever league champions and the first winners of “The Double” becoming the only team till date to go a full season unbeaten in the league as well as the FA Cup, without even conceding a solitary goal. Both feats acheived in 1889.

The next year, PNE retained the League Trophy.

Preston North End is credited as the first football club to embark on a Trophy Parade following their FA Cup success in 1938 over Huddersfield Town at Wembley, in front of 93,497 spectators, on April 30, 1938.

On May 2, 1938, the Preston North End team arrived home in an open top bus, parading the FA Cup trophy to the thousands of fans who lined the streets of Preston, in Lancashire, to celebrate.

Indeed, it was the first of such ritual that has become a huge fan engagement strategy in today’s football.

Modern Era

• Trophy Parades are now planned as huge media events that are streamed live globally.
• It is not unusual to see clubs and national teams use social media to involve fans, with hashtags, drone footage, and live Q&A sessions.

 

Nigeria

The Trophy Parade is a recent development in Nigeria and efforts by teams like Akwa United and Rangers were poorly arranged.

In fact, Rangers was heavily criticized for using a trailer for their Trophy Parade.

 

 

 

It is generally believed that Remo Stars will set a new standard with Friday’s Trophy Parade as a privately owned club.

 

Timeline of Key Football Trophy Parades

1970s–1980s: Emergence of the Open-Top Bus Parade

• 1968 – Manchester United: Celebrated their European Cup win (first for an English club) with an open-top bus in Manchester.
• 1970 – Brazil (National Team): Triumphant return after winning the World Cup in Mexico; the streets of Rio de Janeiro filled with fans.
• 1982 – Italy: World Cup champions greeted by euphoric crowds in Rome.

1990s: Global Growth of Trophy Parades

• 1992 – Barcelona: After winning their first European Cup, fans flooded the streets in one of Catalonia’s biggest football celebrations.
• 1998 – France: Their World Cup win brought over 1 million fans to the Champs-Élysées, turning the heart of Paris into a massive parade ground.

 2000s: Media-Fueled Spectacle

• 2006 – Italy: World Cup winners paraded through Rome with millions in attendance; broadcast live globally.
• 2008 – Spain: Euro 2008 champions sparked massive celebrations, beginning a golden era with frequent parades (2010, 2012).

 2010s: Mega-Parades & Global Streaming

• 2010 – Spain: After winning their first World Cup, Madrid hosted over 1 million fans with a parade and a giant party at Plaza de Cibeles.
• 2015 – Barcelona: After their second treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League), the city hosted a huge parade for the legendary Messi-Iniesta-Xavi era.
• 2019 – Liverpool: Celebrated Champions League victory with a parade that attracted 750,000+ fans—one of the biggest in UK history.

2020s: Record-Breaking Crowds & Social Media Age

• 2022 – Argentina: After winning the World Cup in Qatar, Buenos Aires saw over 5 million fans flood the streets, halting the parade and forcing players to fly overhead in helicopters.
• 2023 – Manchester City: Following a historic treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League), fans gathered in central Manchester to celebrate with the squad and Pep Guardiola.