West Ham United Fans Celebrate Historic Triumph in the 2022/23 Europa Conference League.
On June 7, 2023, West Ham United etched their name in European football history by clinching the Europa Conference League title. The Hammers secured a memorable 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final held at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. This triumph marked the club’s first major European trophy since the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup, cementing a momentous chapter in the club’s storied history.
The victory was not just a triumph for the players and coaching staff, led by manager David Moyes, but also a testament to the unwavering support of the West Ham faithful. Thousands of fans had made the journey to Prague, as they had done throughout the tournament, their passionate support constantly evident as the East Londoner’s enthusiastically chanted, “West Ham are massive, everywhere we go!” The sight of captain Declan Rice lifting the trophy amidst a sea of claret and blue will forever be etched in the memories of those present and the wider West Ham community.
The celebrations did not end in Prague. On June 8, 2023, the streets of East London were transformed into a sea of jubilation as thousands of West Ham fans poured out to celebrate their team’s historic victory. The title parade started at the club’s home, the London Stadium, and wound its way through the streets of Stratford, Plaistow, and Upton Park. Fans of all ages, draped in West Ham colours, sang and cheered, creating an electric atmosphere that encapsulated the pride and passion of the East End.
Dreams Never Die is a photo documentary by renowned London street photographer Gary Lashmar focusing on his fellow West Ham United supporters during the parade celebrations. The limited edition A5 photo zine contains 40 colour and black & white photographs across 40 pages.
Dreams Never Die | Gary Lashmar
Photo documentary focusing on West Ham fans during their 2022/23 Europa Conference League victory parade.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 40 colour and black & white photographs across 40 pages.
They know how to party in London’s East End, and when the celebrations began for West Ham after their Europa Conference League triumph at the end of the 2022/23 season, it was a street party in the very best of traditions for this Cockney corner of the capital.
Open-top buses carried the players, coaching staff, and the precious trophy through the adoring crowds. Chants of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles,” the club’s anthem, echoed through the streets, embodying the euphoric spirit of the occasion. The parade was a poignant reminder of football’s power to unite communities, with families and friends coming together to celebrate a shared dream realised.
It had been a dramatic last minute victory over Fiorentina, and when David Moyes and the team returned 24 hours later with the trophy, the fans and their flags were out in force, letting off their flairs while they let off steam in the London sunshine.
Lifelong Hammer Gary Lashmar was in the thick of it, and very much in his element.
“The joy, the celebration and being amongst those people feels so much like home to me. It’s very familiar. Simply put – I was there and not concerned with anything other than that. Pure escape by coming together. Pretty much like every football match.” Gary Lashmar
Jarrod Bowen, as he has done so many times, scored that all important 90th minute decider in a 2-1 victory in Prague, and a day later Lashmar, and most of East London, were ready and waiting, as the winners’ spoils were paraded through the streets of Stratford.
For West Ham United, the 2022/23 Europa Conference League triumph is more than just a trophy; it symbolises the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and resilience. It is a beacon of hope for future generations of Hammers fans, a reminder that dreams do come true.
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