Homecoming parade route set (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Wolves Challenge Cup homecoming parade route set

12:27pm Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News

THIS year’s Challenge Cup homecoming parade will take place on Sunday, August 26 - if the Wolves collect the trophy the day before.

The parade will start at 4pm at the new Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub should Warrington beat Leeds.

There they will board an open top bus and pause for speeches and a photo opportunity with Mayor Clr Steve Wright.

The bus will then travel down the A49 with the players and the cup to The Halliwell Jones Stadium where it will again pause for a few minutes for a photo opportunity.

It will then make its way through the town centre, past the bus station, along Scotland Road, Academy Way, Barbauld Street, Wilson Patten Street, Winmarleigh Street and finally will turn onto Sankey Street and into the Town Hall.

The parade is expected to take between 45 minutes and one hour to reach the Town Hall.

Once at the town hall the players, coaching staff and club directors will then have an official photograph taken before joining the Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington and other guests for a civic reception.

Clr Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Borough Council , said: “Earlier this year residents of Warrington turned out in their thousands to line the route of the Olympic Torch Relay.

“Businesses decorated their shop windows and I hope those scenes will be repeated again later this month.

“Warrington is a rugby town through and through I know everyone here at the council and beyond is right behind the team and rooting for a win, go Wire!”

Andy Gatcliffe, chief executive of Warrington Wolves said: “We are delighted to have reached our third Challenge Cup Final in four years and the whole town has been getting behind the team as the excitement builds and Wembley fever hits Warrington once again.

“It’s important that the entire community support the team as they aim to bring silverware back to The Halliwell Jones Stadium earning a warm homecoming reception greater than those of 2009 and 2010.”

A bank holiday fun day organised by LiveWire will be held at Orford Park on the Sunday afternoon featuring fairground rides and displays and demonstrations by the Wolves Foundation. This event will go ahead if the Wolves win or lose from 2pm to 6pm.

The front lawns of the Town Hall will be open from 3pm onwards, the capacity of which is limited to 10 000 for safety reasons.

A dedicated disabled area with clear views will be provided at Orford Jubilee Hub and at the front of the Town Hall. Each wheelchair user may be accompanied by one helper, carer, friend or family member.

As the event is taking place on a Sunday afternoon additional bus services have been arranged by the council to help fans get home safely.