West Ham lift first trophy in over four decades
The east London club beat Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final
Last updated 8th Jun 2023
Thousands of West Ham fans poured into the streets of Prague as the football club won its first trophy in more than 40 years.
Fans danced on tables and kissed each other in pubs across the Czech capital as they watched the Hammers lift the Europa Conference League trophy on Wednesday night.
Supporters chanted "2-1 to the cockney boys" as they watched on from a pub in the city, with thousands having travelled from the UK without tickets.
Jarrod Bowen's last-minute winner sealed the 2-1 victory, the Hammers first piece of silverware since 1980's FA Cup
Fans clash with riot police
Off the pitch, West Ham fans clashed with riot police after setting off flares as they celebrated their Wednesday night win.
A scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
Earlier in the day Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Italian fans after they attacked West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chairs and fireworks being thrown.
Celebrations were initially good-natured after the match, with revellers hugging and kissing each other and dancing on tables in bars.
"unreal"
The final took place at the Fortuna Arena, which has a capacity of around 19,300, with West Ham receiving an official ticket allocation of 5,000, although many more travelled from the UK to be in the city during the game.
Supporters watched in bars around the city, including a group who went wild at McCarthy's Pub in the Old Town area from the moment Jarrod Bowen gave the team the lead in the final minute of the second half.
West Ham fan Aaron, 18, said it felt "unreal" to win.
"(I've) never felt like it in my life," he said.
He said his plan for the rest of the night was to "stumble back to the hotel".
"How we get there I don't care," he added.
Club working with police
There was also controversy during the match as Cristiano Biraghi of Fiorentina was seen bleeding from the back of the head after he appeared to have been hit by an object thrown from the West Ham stand.
Shortly before the end of the match, the English club put out a statement condemning the behaviour of a "small number of individuals", adding: "These actions have no place in football, and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition."
The club said it would work with police to review the incident and take action against offenders, including implementing lifetime bans.
A parade to celebrate back home
The club have confirmed there will be a victory parade through the streets of east London this evening.
The playing squad and coaching staff will parade the Club’s first major trophy since 1980 on a specially-commissioned open top bus.
The parade will be travelling from the Hammers’ old home at Upton Park to a reception at Stratford Town Hall.
Celebrations kick off from 7pm.