PARADE: Wolves are coming home with the Challenge Cup, tens of thousands to hit the streets (From Warrington Guardian)

PARADE: Wolves are coming home with the Challenge Cup, tens of thousands to hit the streets

10:30am Sunday 26th August 2012 in Wolves news By Mike Parsons

“THE homecoming’s the best bit for me,” says Chris Riley .

Wembley try scorer Riley and the Warrington Wolves cup kings will be parading the hard-earned, much deserved and highly treasured silverware through the streets of Warrington on the return from their Luton hotel this afternoon.

The 22-year-old, who was a supporter on the terraces before his big break with the club, said: “Being a Warrington lad and taking the cup through my home town, I think this is the best bit for me.

“A lot of lads tell me I’ve got to get a passport if I go out of Warrington.

“We work hard as sportsmen and want to win silverware every year no matter what club you play for, but to see the fans who pay their money I just can’t wait to celebrate with them. We’ve got a great fan base.”

Up to 100,000 are expected to hail the heroes on the homecoming parade, which is due to start at 4pm at the new Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub (Orford Park).

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 (Winwick Road) 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 on to Sankey Street and into the Town Hall.

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

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 and I hope those scenes will be repeated again."

A bank holiday fun day organised by LiveWire will be held at Orford Park this afternoon featuring fairground rides and displays and demonstrations by the Wolves Foundation.

This event will go ahead 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.