FOOTBALL fans cheered on the famous Accrington Stanley as they celebrated a historic league title.

Hundreds of people descended on Accrington town centre to catch a glimpse of the League Two champions.

Stood on an open top bus, Stanley players, along with manager John Coleman and club staff applauded fans as they arrived at the town hall.

Despite the team arriving at Broadway 15 minutes later than scheduled, due the bus not being allowed to travel along part of the planned route, players were met with cheers and applause from fans, who were banging drums, waving red and white flags and chanting the names of their favourite players.

Each player paraded the trophy around the bus while manager Coleman thanked the fans for their support.

He said: “It’s down to people like you that make this worthwhile.”

Fans said Stanley’s achievement was ‘unimaginable’ at the start of the season.

Couple Janet and Jim Mawdsley, both 53, said: “We could never believe anything like this could happen a few years ago.”

Lifelong fan Sarah Guilfoyle, 20, from Clayton-le-Moors, said: “It has been fantastic. We have come close the last couple of seasons but this is unimaginable. I did not expect to happen at all.”

John Lord, 55, who has lived in Accrington for 25 years, made the trip to the town centre with his son Tyler, eight, who was a mascot for Accrington’s game away to Luton in March.

Mr Lord said: “My son has never seen them lose since he started watching them this season.”

Friends James Whittaker, 24, and Aaron Jones, 24, both from Rochdale, have been regularly making the 30 mile round trip to Accrington for the last four years.

They said: “We did not think we would win the league.”

Striker Kayden Jackson, 24, who has scored 16 goals this season, said: “To win the league in my first season has been unbelievable and to share it with the fans has been brilliant.”

Irish central defender Jimmy Dunne, 20, said: “This is incredible. I did not think this could be possible."