Flags, flares and joy filled the air as the promotion party continued for Stockport County fans this evening. Almost 24 hours after clinching the league title at Edgeley Park, the Hatters were back in town as supporters lined the streets to cheer their heroes.
County will be back in the Football League for the first time in 11 years next season. Jubilant supporters - whose feet still hadn't touched the ground after the side's 2-0 win over Halifax Town on Sunday - gave a roaring welcome to the players and coaches as they made their way from Stockport Town Hall to Edgeley Park.
The heights of Wembley appearances and second tier football had made way for a dour plunge down the football pyramid in more recent years. Administration in 2009 was followed by back-to-back relegations, before the Hatters sunk to the sixth tier of football in 2013.
Now, County fans are daring to dream again - their promotion heroes already immortalised as icons in the club's history. "It's great after all this time," said Sue Crowe, 71.
She told the Manchester Evening News of her memories from County's dizzying heights in the 1990s. The plunge that followed is now in the past, with glory returning to Edgeley Park. "It's nice this," Sue added.
Supporters young and old poured into Edgeley after the open-top bus parade came to an end. Fans filled Hardcastle Road with a buzz of excitement, before packing the Cheadle End at Edgeley Park ready for the National League trophy presentation.
Each player was given their moment to lift the silverware in front of thousands of their loyal fans. Supporters chanted 'we're on our way back' and 'championes' as supporters gave an outpouring of love to the players and staff who had finally managed to lift the club back to the Football League.
"Stockport has become a community again," Debbie Bennison, 48, said. "It's brought everyone together - united us as a community. It's absolutely brilliant. They've done something they've not done for 11 years - it's amazing."
Hatters supporters were already in fine voice before the players began to arrive on the pitch. With the presentation ending, they poured forwards towards the pitch to embrace the players and thank them for bringing joy back to the club.
Excitement is now already building for League Two football, including Greater Manchester derbies against Rochdale and Salford City, and Hatters fans are hopeful of another successful year. "League Two, watch out," supporter Owen Lloyd - who travels from Leeds to follow his hometown club - warned next year's opponents.
"We're looking up now," added Andrea Gilmour, 35. "It means a lot. This is what football is supposed to be about."
