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Bank Holiday Mondays are proving to be days of celebration for Leeds United and that was the case again in the first week of May.
Easter Monday saw the resurrection of their Premier League status confirmed after a two-year hiatus, and the first Bank Holiday of May saw the city swamped with fans not only celebrating their promotion but also Championship title triumph.
Daniel Farke’s side were crowned champions in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon as Manor Solomon’s last-gasp winner at relegated Plymouth Argyle saw Leeds pip rivals Burnley on goal difference.
It was the first time two teams reached 100 points in the same Championship campaign, with Leeds’ superior 12-goal difference (+65 against Burnley’s +53) proving decisive.
And two days after winning the Championship, the party continued as everyone connected with the club enjoyed an open-top bus parade.
The city centre was awash with jubilant supporters en masse as the area became a sea of white, yellow and blue.
Leeds United fans shut down the city as they celebrated en masse their Championship title
Yellow and blue smoke bombs filled the city’s air ahead of the club’s open-top bus parade
Thousands upon fans lined up in the city centre to welcome their promotion heroes on Monday
The colours the fans adorned also illuminated the air as several in attendance brought flares to add to the fervent atmosphere.
Not everything was at ground level though as many sought the best possible advantage to see their heroes roll into the city centre – with many pictured standing on top of Metro station roofs while others chose to climb trees.
The parade will follow a mile-long route that will take in the full length of the Headrow, as well as City Square, Boar Lane, New Market Street and parts of Wellington Street and Vicar Lane.
The Yorkshire outfit arrived in the city centre at around 1pm, with the parade set to last between an hour and an hour-and-a-half.
Speaking about the mass support on Monday, Solomon was taken aback at the sheer scale of what he was witnessing.
‘It’s unbelievable. No words. To see them celebrating like this, you don’t know how many there are here, maybe 500,000, it’s incredible,’ he said.
‘I was expecting to see a lot of people but not this much. It’s crazy. This season, what we’ve all done, is brilliant.
‘It’s been amazing, now we just have to celebrate. I’ve made a few memories at Leeds United that will always remain in my heart. I can’t explain what I feel for these fans, they deserve to be happy.’
Leeds players made their way through the city with the Championship trophy in view for fans
Buses containing the Championship champions rolled through the city centre on Monday
Leeds manager Daniel Farke (centre) enjoyed the celebrations after guiding them to promotion
Leeds players bask in the glory and adulation ahead of their Premier League return
Leeds flags were evident throughout the city as the club’s fanbase celebrate wildly
Fans of all ages were out to celebrate their Premier League-bound idols on Monday afternoon
Fans climbed up on top of Metro station roofs and the top of trees for the best vantage points
So many of the fans in attendance were head-to-toe in Leeds attire – including wearing hats
This Leeds fan holds a flare in his mouth to imitate smoking a cigar during the wild scenes
It was just the human race who came out in support for the club on Bank Holiday Monday
