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Manchester United parade trophy and mark Alex Ferguson's retirement | Manchester United parade trophy and mark Alex Ferguson's retirement |
(35 minutes later) | |
A victory parade has begun to mark Manchester United's 20th league title and Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. | A victory parade has begun to mark Manchester United's 20th league title and Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. |
Thousands of fans gathered at the club's Old Trafford stadium as the open-top bus tour got under way at 18:30 BST. | Thousands of fans gathered at the club's Old Trafford stadium as the open-top bus tour got under way at 18:30 BST. |
The parade will travel towards the city centre and Albert Square, where more fans have gathered, at about 19:30. | The parade will travel towards the city centre and Albert Square, where more fans have gathered, at about 19:30. |
Sir Alex, who is retiring at the age of 71 after 26 years in Manchester, has won 38 trophies at Old Trafford. | Sir Alex, who is retiring at the age of 71 after 26 years in Manchester, has won 38 trophies at Old Trafford. |
Speaking from the bus, the septuagenarian Scotsman thanked fans for their support over the years and for the reception he received before his final home game, United's 2-1 win against Swansea City on Sunday. | Speaking from the bus, the septuagenarian Scotsman thanked fans for their support over the years and for the reception he received before his final home game, United's 2-1 win against Swansea City on Sunday. |
He said it had been "a day I will never forget - it was wonderful". | |
"It was something all my family enjoyed and the grandkids will never forget it." | |
The bus left the stadium via Sir Matt Busby Way at about 18:30 and travelled down Chester Road, taking in Deansgate and Lloyd Street. | The bus left the stadium via Sir Matt Busby Way at about 18:30 and travelled down Chester Road, taking in Deansgate and Lloyd Street. |
Fans lined every part of the route from the stadium to the square, with police refusing entry to any more fans by 19:00 after the plaza and the surrounding streets filled to capacity. | |
Supporters have travelled from far and wide to attend the parade, with some coming from as close as Stretford and others from as far away as South Africa. | |
Famara Bojang from London said he had "come to the parade today as I wanted to be part of this moment in history", while Darren Reid from Barrow-in-Furness said he had been to "every parade since 1999, but I'm obviously here this time to say goodbye to Fergie". |