Bus Parade
May 29, 2006
Author: Inayellowshirt

Following the 3-0 against Leeds in Cardiff, the club confirmed that an open top bus tour of the town centre would take place on the follwing Tuesday night.

The three coach convoy left a secret location, and headed first of all to the town hall where the Mayor held a civic reception for the team. Here they conducted interviews for the press, and even managed a brief balcony wave for the fans that had congregated outside, before heading off on the drive through the town.

The reported route took in part of St Albans Rd, Station Rd, Clarendon Rd, Ring Road, and through the High Street. But it was at the final point where things became a little confused, with a BBC website stating that the players would disembark at Charter Place.

An estimated 20,000 fans braved the rain, and formed a huge line of yellow and red along from the Harlequin centre up to Charter Place and Market Street. There were in fact so many, that the area supposably cordened off for the press at Charter Place became full of eager fans waiting to see their heroes and with a Skynews helicopter circling above the atmosphere was electric.

As the coaches made their way past McDonalds they were greeted by two huge cannons that launched a mass of confettee across their path, and the cheers flowed up the crowd. Aidy Boothroyd deservably received the most cheers and chants, as he stood at the front of the second coach showing a rare bit of emotion and waving to the crowd. The convoy slowly made its way up along the High Street with people waving from every conceivable window, roof and even scaffolding, eventually reaching Charter Place and this is where the disappointment first set in as they failed to stop as reported, and continued round into Market Street.

By now the crowd was in great voice, with fans being allowed to follow in behind the coaches and walk along with them. But as the coaches reached the end of Market Street, they were supposed to head off back to their start point but fans had started to run ahead of the coaches and slowed their departure down due to concerns for the fans safety.

Then someone started a rumour that they were infact going back to Vicarage Road, and this caused a mass rush of fans to try and make their way across to Vicarage Road only to once again end up disappointed.

Despite all the planning that obviously went into such a parade, it really seems a shame that they did not consider it possible for the players to take in the crowd at Charter Place like they did in 1984 after the FA Cup final.

It would be great if the club can work on a better way next time for the fans to express their joy, rather than have the slight feeling of anticlimax following watching a coach just drive by you and off into the distance.