THOUSANDS of delighted Wolverhampton Wanderers’ fans lined the streets of the city to celebrate their heroes’ return to the top flight.
Wolves will play Premier League football for the first time since 2012 after finishing top of the Championship.
The first-team squad and club officials lapped up the massive recepition aboard two open top buses.
Each bus was given the number “1 KEME”, in tribute to keeper Carl Ikeme who was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last summer.
The promotion party continued at West Park, where 30,000 tickets were given away for the event.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were deserved title winners, finishing the campaign with 99 points, nine more than second-placed Cardiff City.
And that after a surprise 3-0 loss at bottom club Sunderland on Sunday.
Midfielder Romain Saiss said the team had “waited for a long time” for this day.
FOR FERGIE Man Utd stars ready to put a shift in for Sir Alex as they arrive at training
He said of the fans: “Every game at home they are with us and they deserve this promotion as well.”
Wolves actually gained promotion last month with four games to spare – such was their dominance after making some huge signings last summer.
Santo, speaking to Sky Sports News on top of the bus, said: “Now we have to celebrate and then we rest then we think of targets for next season. The competition finished only yesterday.
“It’s always different. I have experienced many moments but this is really special for everybody, it means a lot.
“It’s about the players, the squad and the way they helped each other. It doesn’t have a name. The players had a task and they helped each other achieve that task.”
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Diego Jota, on loan from Porto said:
“Unbelievable feeling. I think for a team to be champion you have to have something special and our group is a family and we achieve this together.
“It means a lot for me (to play in the Premier League). I always watch the Premier League on the TV in Portugal and next season I will accomplish a dream.”
Many supporters were pictured with Portuguese flags to recognise the part the likes of £18.8million striker Ruben Neves and £7m midfielder Ivan Cavaleiro have played in regaining the club’s Premier League status.