Thousands of fans join York City promotion parade

Red smoke from flares filled the air as the team arrived at the end of the parade route [Oli Constable/BBC] Thousands of fans have joined a parade celebrating York City's promotion to the Football League after a 10-year exile. The club earned automatic promotion to League Two after securing the National League title in a dramatic 1-1 draw at Rochdale - scoring in the 13th minute of stoppage time. The 1.

2 mile (2km) parade route started at St Leonard's Place, outside York Art Gallery, before crossing the River Ouse twice and finishing at the Eye of York, near Clifford's Tower. Speaking at the parade, co-owners Matthew and Julie-Anne Uggla said they were "elated" to be returning to the Football League. Clifford's Tower proved the perfect vantage point for fans cheering on the team's open top bus [Richard Fox/BBC] The parade was originally due to take place last Tuesday but was postponed because of safety concerns raised by City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police.

However, at a promotion party at the LNER Community Stadium last week, Julie-Anne told fans a parade had been reorganised. York City are back in the Football League for the first time in a decade [Oli Constable/BBC] Paul Baker, 49, and Mark Gill, 43, joined the parade on Ouse Bridge. Paul said it felt "amazing" to be promoted after such a positive season.

"The owners have reconnected the club to the community and reborn the club and it feels amazing," he said. He was listening to the game on BBC Radio York in his living room when the 103rd-minute equaliser crossed the line. "I jumped on my father who is 81 and we burst into tears in a good way," he said.