Probably the worst open-top bus victory parade ever: Not one soul turns out to salute football team's triumph

A lowly football club celebrated winning the league with an open-top bus parade - and no-one turned out to cheer them.

Football minnows Duckpond FC splashed out £1,400 on their big day, which also included a victory banner towed across the sky.

But none of the club's tiny fanbase - an average home crowd of 60 - turned out to line the streets for the parade in Harwich, Essex, on Saturday.

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Shoppers looked in bemusement as the players were cheered on by nobody as they passed through the town on the top of the big red bus.

But despite the lack of support, player-manager Michael Richmond said they would have a boat and animal parade next time they are crowned champions.

Michael, 24, said: 'Next year we're going to have a bus, a plane, a boat and some sort of parade of animals.

'Everyone knows, if you play for us, that's what you get at the end of the year.

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'It gives us an edge on other teams, no-one else has a party like we do.'

Duckpond FC, who are named after Cox's Pond in Harwich, Essex, were only formed in 2011 but have won back-to-back championships in their first three seasons.

This year they took the Colchester and District Sunday League Division One title, following on from last season's triumph in Division Two.

The year before that they were Division Three champs in their first season as a club.

The players - including a butcher, welder and railway worker - all chipped in to pay for the celebration which included £200 on alcohol and £70 on helium balloons.

They also paid for a plane to fly a banner over the town emblazoned with the words: 'Duckpond FC Champions of Essex'.

It was flown by the same company who flew the 'Moyes out' banner over Old Trafford.