Auckland FC victory parade: Thousands flock city streets to congratulate team
Thousands of people have lined Auckland’s Queen St to cheer on Auckland FC after their history-making win.
The Black Knights secured the A-League title in front of more than 28,000 spectators at Go Media Stadium last night after beating Sydney FC 1-0 in the grand final.
Auckland became champions in just their second season as a club, making them the first outfit from New Zealand to do so.
To celebrate, the team held a trophy parade where an open-top bus came down Queen St, starting by Aotea Square before finishing with a presentation at Takutai Square in Britomart.
Fans were cheering and singing as the bus made its way down the road. Once it stopped, the players were mobbed by those in attendance as they made their way up to the stage.
They were greeted by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who declared Auckland a “soccer city”, before the players hoisted the trophy into the air and posed for photos and signed autographs ahead of continuing their celebrations on the bus.
Brown had earlier urged fans to turn out to celebrate a special moment for Auckland.
Auckland FC chief executive Nick Becker was blown away by the support, with multiple fans thanking him for helping build the team.
“It’s so special,” Becker told the Herald.
“I grew up here in Auckland, I’m an Auckland boy, and to come back a couple of years ago and be part of the team that set up this club was an incredible opportunity for me.
“To get people come up and say thanks and what it’s done for the city, it just means so much. It’s not just a club, it’s bigger than that, it’s for the whole city and it’s for New Zealand as well.”
Becker thanked the fans for coming out to show their support.
“It’s a real pinch-me moment, blown away by it,” Becker said.
“We didn’t really know who was going to turn up and to have the kind of thousands of people who came both down Queen Street and into Britomart Square here is just an incredible feeling, amazing, amazing day.
“We’re so blessed to have such incredible fans.”
Cam Howieson’s decisive goal just before the hour mark was the difference in the match.
It was an incredible moment for the local product, who had never previously found the net at A-League level.