Leeds United’s 33 year-wait to experience the unbridled joy of a title parade is over

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The impact of May 5, 2025 in Leeds may not hit home until Reeva Saville takes her own children to Elland Road in 2055. The first green shoots of that legacy may be seen as early as Tuesday morning, when four-year-old Reeva tells her classmates how she spent a bank holiday Monday.

Even for someone as young as that, without a real comprehension of what Leeds United have achieved, this title parade in the city centre was an assault on their senses. There were sights, sounds and smells they will never forget.

These are core life experiences for a football fan. They have to be treasured, savoured and locked away in the memory. Aside from a select few at the top of the pyramid, English clubs can see decades stretch out between trophies and parades.

In Leeds, it’s been 33 years since an open-top bus rolled along Boar Lane with silverware displayed. Covid restrictions denied the city its deserved celebration in 2020, when Marcelo Bielsa’s side romped to the Championship title. Monday’s party, therefore, was an outpouring of three decades of angst.

Leeds fans celebrate during the club’s parade (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

The city awoke to roads lined by barriers, police and marshals. Leeds City Council had expected a strong turnout, but the estimated 150,000 that turned up surpassed those expectations.

You could barely move if you tried to get through City Square after 11.30am. Flags were waving, blue and yellow smoke filled the air, spectators climbed onto anything that got them off the pavement. Platforms and planters were the safe bets but bus shelters, street signs and traffic lights were all exploited.

Even if you didn’t brave the street furniture and could not see much, it did not matter. People just wanted to be there, at a moment in history.

Stuart Saville is 65 and has supported Leeds his whole life. He was standing on one corner with several generations of his family. This was a case study no doubt repeated all over the city. This was a day for families to share.

“It’s fantastic to let my grandkids see this and my children,” Stuart told The Athletic. His sons Gareth and Gavin were among the family he had with him. The former is the father of the aforementioned Reeva.

They both became Leeds fans because of their dad. Days like this have to be shared with him, as well as the next generation.

Monday saw Leeds’ first trophy parade in 33 years (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

“It’s amazing,” said Gareth. “We missed it in Covid times, so this is more important than ever, really. All we’ve known growing up is Leeds. My mum and dad are getting a bit older, so we’re trying to cherish every single moment with these two.

“We’ve got our own kids now, their grandkids, so we’ve brought them along today. We’re trying to make the most of it because you don’t know when it’s going to happen again.”

Leeds’ title win has brought new life to the city. Monday crackled with anticipations and optimism. There was no thought given to the wider trends of the Premier League, of the slim chance Leeds may have of staying up next season. It was hope for this happening again sooner rather than later.

“You can see what it means to everyone here,” said Gareth. “It’s like, ‘What if we keep going? What can we achieve? What would it be like if we went the next step and did something like this again?’ This is a big celebration. This is five years bottled up and everyone enjoying the moment.”

He is a part of the generation of Leeds fans who have only been able to listen to what parades like this mean to the city. 1992’s top-flight title procession has been relayed to him, but Monday was a chance to have his own stories.

“I was born in 1990,” he said. “It’s trying to make my own stories and memories now and sharing them with people. All I’ve had is listening and hearing stories. It’s nice to be part of this and be able to share this with other people.”

As the three buses eventually wheeled along the front of The Queens hotel, watched on by The Black Prince statue, a wall of blue smoke masked your view and made people’s eyes water. The joy on the players’ faces was plain to see, though. This is the kind of thing they dreamt of they made their way through the ranks of their various academies.

This is the moment Leeds United’s promotion parade makes its way through the city.

Read more: https://t.co/6CxDxFfHop pic.twitter.com/zmSJuUnQM3

— BBC Leeds (@BBCLeeds) May 5, 2025

Daniel Farke, less than 24 hours after being publicly backed for the Premier League by chairman Paraag Marathe, looked happy, but understandably jaded by what have been two weeks of keeping up with his players’ partying. The convoy trundled through at a slow pace, ensuring everyone got their glimpse, their pictures and videos.

After a journey around the city centre which lasted more than an hour, the finale played out in front of Leeds Town Hall. The iconic building is currently surrounded by hoardings for ongoing construction work, but that did not stop dozens of spectators from climbing in. There were far too many useful vantage points in there for people to be denied.

There’s an avenue of trees along that section of the road, too. They were swamped by people, as were the now-customary traffic lights and bus shelters.

Paul Sellers, 70, was one of those watching from in front of Leeds Art Gallery. He was with his 12-year-old grandson, Noah.

“I can’t put it into words,” he said. “I can’t, genuinely, I can’t. It’s like the song goes. It’s ups and downs. This is one of the ups and there’s been a lot of downs. I’m savouring it. It’s important we get these times as well as the bad times.”

Paul had an admission to make about 2020’s title win which only underlined how important these moments are in a football fan’s life.

“I probably shouldn’t have, but I came down to Millennium Square when it was Covid,” he said. “We kept our distance. A lot didn’t and that was their choice, but I didn’t want to miss the celebrations and be a part of it.

“This is totally different. It’s much freer. There’s no restrictions. Come and enjoy the party.”

It’s estimated 150,000 supporters joined the celebrations (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Paul is certain this will be the kind of day that cements a lifetime’s adoration for Leeds United for Noah, stood at his side. He will probably come to learn it’s a love-hate relationship he can never shake off.

Gareth had daughter Reeva by him as we spoke earlier in the day at City Square. These are the days they will speak about for the rest of their lives, a formative moment in her football life.

“She was in the garden celebrating with me on Saturday when (Manor) Solomon tapped it (United’s winner at Plymouth Argyle) in,” he said. “She knows all the songs. I’m trying to get her to start the chants, but she’s got no choice, really. She’s part of this and she’s enjoying every second.

“She saw the celebrations at Elland Road after the Sheffield United-Burnley result. She was like, ‘Wow, there’s so many people that love Leeds like us’. This is just taking it up to the next level this time.

“She’s bought every flag, scarf and hat she could find. She’s loving it, she’s singing out and she’s enjoying every second.”

They were heading back to Newcastle, where they live, on Monday evening. News of Leeds United’s parade is likely to stretch far beyond an LS postcode.

“I expect, tomorrow, when she’s going to reception (at school), she’ll be telling all her friends and teachers she’s been at Leeds,” said Gareth. She won’t be the only one.

(Top photo: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

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