Fans spill out to dance at the feet of Sir Matt

Time to reminisce again as we go back to my “Name on the Trophy” blog from last September where by I wrote about three e-mails I found from back the 26th May 2004.

The e-mails were entitled “Name on the Trophy!!! 26/05/1999 (1), (2) and (3)” and it was a load of quotes from the world of TV commentary from the day, as well as various newspaper reports from the days after the event. Below are another two of those reports and I have many more to come, enjoy reading them. I have.

Thousands of jubilant supporters turned the centre of Manchester into a huge street party amid a sea of emotion last night. 

The remarkable finale to Manchester United’s unprecedented Treble sparked scenes of mass delirium with the realisation that the 31-year quest for the European Cup had finally been fulfilled.

Fans poured out of pubs and clubs to converge on the city centre for a carnival more accustomed to Rio than Rusholme. During the match the streets had been deserted.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as fans young and old danced in the streets to the unrelenting accompaniment of sounding car horns.

The most innovative street vendors were selling the first merchandise bearing the words “European Cup Winners – 1999”.

At Old Trafford the poignancy of the occasion was not lost as supporters draped their assorted paraphernalia over the statue of Sir Matt Busby, who was born 90 years ago to the day.

Police were forced to close off the surrounding streets as the hordes made the Theatre of Dreams the focal point for their celebrations, queues of traffic stretching for miles around.

“It’s been the most amazing night of my lifetime,” said Simon Clementson, a restaurateur and lifelong fan, who could not get his hands on a cherished ticket for Stretford-on-Sea 2,000 miles away.

“I’ve never seen celebrations like it but then again I’ve never seen a match end like that.”

Later today the scenes will be repeated when the United team parade all three trophies on an open-top bus parade organised at short notice after initially being cancelled because of safety concerns.

An estimated 500,000 people are expected to continue the party.

#12 Fans spill out to dance at the feet of Sir Matt – The Guardian
By Daniel Taylor

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