Victory parade for FA Cup heroes

Chelsea parade the FA Cup through west London

FA Cup winners Chelsea are having a victory parade through west London on Sunday, with the fans out in force to cheer their heroes again.

The victorious team is travelling by open-topped bus from the club's Stamford Bridge ground to Town Hall in Fulham.

Chelsea's single-goal victory over Aston Villa was hardly stylish but it was historic, since it was the last FA Cup final to be staged beneath the twin towers of Wembley before the stadium is demolished.

The Chelsea bus passes thousands of fans

The fans in blue will still be savouring the glory of yesterday's win.

Historic match

As the teams took to the pitch there was a spectacular display of fireworks but it took until the second half to prompt a sparkle from Chelsea, the bookmakers' favourites.

Villa fans knew their team were starting as underdogs, but still hoped for their first FA Cup win since 1957.

But the game's dealock was eventually broken in the 73rd minute by Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo, who three years ago had scored the quickest goal in an FA Cup final.

Di Matteo scores the winning goal

He punished Villa's lack of ideas when he got on the end of a free kick which went into a scrum of players in the goalmouth. Chelsea's victory was the club's second in four years, and manager Gianluca Vialli was naturally a very happy man.

He said: "It is the best possible way for us to finish a season. Now we can go on holiday and rest."

It is the best possible way for us to finish a season

Gianluca Vialli
Chelsea manager

Thousands of Aston Villa fans are also expected to turn up for a civic reception and parade through the centre of Birmingham to honour their defeated side on Sunday.

The demolition men will soon move in on the scene of Chelsea's triumph.

The Football Association has not yet decided where the next two or three FA Cup finals will be held while a replacement for Wembley is built, at a cost of £475m.

Twickenham, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium or the ground of a neutral team are thought to be under consideration.