Excited football fans are flocking from Kent to London to celebrate Arsenal’s title-winning campaign today.
Supporters across the county are heading to the capital for what will be the club’s first parade to celebrate winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
Four open-top buses are due to set off from Emirates Stadium at 2pm, heading off on a five-mile loop across Islington.
Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to attend the parade, which will also see them celebrate the women’s team winning the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in February.
It means Maidstone-born Alessia Russo will be among the stars supporters will be eager to see throughout the afternoon.
Among the Kent fans attending the parade is Sellindge resident Frankie Costa, 44, who is travelling alongside his 11-year-old nephew, from Woodchurch.
Mr Costa, whose nephew shares the same name, said: “We’re super excited.
“I was 11 when Arsenal won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994, so we’ve gone full circle with Frankie coming today.
“There wasn’t a parade for that back then, so today is going to be a really great day.
“It would have been nice to have another trophy after the Champions League last night, but it’s still special either way.”
Ashford resident Jamie Theobald is travelling to the game with his son, Max.
He said: “We’re really excited and are looking forward to it.
“My best friend Nate was an Arsenal fan from north London and took me to my first game in the 1990s.
“I then joined him in supporting the club and obviously indoctrinated my son, and today is going to be really good for him to see.
“We’re not too sure what to expect but we’re going to go to Angel station and just take it from there.
“My brother is from Folkestone and is meeting us on the train so we’re going to see how it goes.”
Fans will be unable to see the men’s team parading the Champions League trophy after their agonising final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the final last night.
However, it is not dampening supporters’ spirits.
Fellow Ashford resident Tara departed the station for London St Pancras shortly after midday with her partner Steve and daughter Ava.
She said: “We’re really excited and can’t wait.
“I went in 2004 when we last won the league with Patrick Vieira so it’s been a long time since then.”
