The first of an expected 25,000 ticketless West Ham fans began pouring into Prague today on planes, trains and by road in anticipation of joining a celebratory party for the London club's first major trophy for decades.
Heavy rain also raised fears that the supporters might find a fan zone set up for them turning into a quagmire as a huge police security operation swung into action.
Every plane into Prague was full of supporters and the centre of Prague was being turned into a claret-and blue zone.
Early arrivals included a newly-married West Ham fan who set off for Prague at 3am, the day after his wedding, and a student who travelled 28 hours by coach to arrive in the Czech capital without a ticket.