Thousands pack streets for Saints victory parade
Written by I Dig SportsBy Alice Cunningham, Harriet Heywood, BBC News, Northamptonshire
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![James Burridge/BBC Thousands of fans in Northampton for the Saints Premiership celebratory parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5376/live/865bb7e0-267d-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
The parade started at Cinch Stadium - but fans were out on the streets long before to get the best view.
Kerry and her family found a spot right in front of the Guildhall and even brought chairs to ensure they could see the team arrive.
"We are festival-goers, so we have come prepared with our chairs because we know a lot about waiting at the barriers," she said.
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Kerry with her family in Northampton](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bd4c/live/f36d6380-267b-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
Stephen Stevenson was another fan out early with his family and he managed to see Saints' previous title win in 2014.
"I was there when we won 10 years ago and watching them win again I sobbed like a baby," he said.
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Stephen Stevenson and family in Northampton](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a7e6/live/4bfa4db0-267c-11ef-baa7-25d483663b8e.jpg.webp)
It was not just people out and about early - the dogs of Northampton were kitted out in Saints merchandise.
Ivy and another dog were pictured enjoying the celebrations.
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Ivy the dog in Northampton](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8de2/live/9ec1dcc0-267c-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
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![Carroll Weston/BBC A dog celebrating the Saints Premiership win with its own shirt](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/790a/live/cc32dba0-267c-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
As the parade got closer to the Guildhall, the fans were out in their thousands with little to no space left.
Cheers could be heard as the buses came into view, with choruses of Queen's rock classic We Are The Champions starting to break out from the fans.
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Northampton Saints players on the parade bus](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cacb/live/b42277e0-267d-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
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![James Burridge/BBC Fans cheering during the Northampton Saints celebratory parade](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/60e8/live/c5a24bd0-267d-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Bands were out in Northampton adding to the celebratory atmosphere](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a4a4/live/ca50dfc0-267d-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
At 14:30 the team stepped out in front of the crowds on a stage at the Guildhall to lift the Premiership trophy before giving several interviews.
It was an emotional moment for many of the players, including several who are leaving the team.
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![James Burridge/BBC Saints players lift the Premiership trophy to the fans in Northampton](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3b89/live/bb8cb3f0-267e-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.png.webp)
Flanker Lewis Ludlam, who will be heading to France next season, described the win as "a fairytale".
"We've dreamt of this for a long time now... to finally get it across the line is a fairytale," he added.
Similarly, lock Alex Moon, who is also moving to France, said it was "everything I could have hoped it could be".
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Saints players sing to fans](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6cf3/live/f2701060-267e-11ef-bc03-e79d96ebd45b.jpg.webp)
After mingling in the crowds and signing autographs, the players were back on the bus by about 15:40.
Even once the bus had departed the chants continued as fans attempted to keep the moment alive, unwilling to let it end.
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![Harriet Heywood/BBC Northampton Saints players wave farewell to fans](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f300/live/5d8f28e0-267f-11ef-80aa-699d54c46324.jpg.webp)
Council workers were then on the streets by 16:00 helping to clear up after the event.
Fans now have to wait until September for Premiership rugby to start again.
You can catch up on the parade as it happened here or listen back to BBC Radio Northampton's coverage on BBC Sounds here.