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Barmy Army


Fleagle said:
Some thoughts on my Oz visit.

It’s been 12 years since I was last on an ashes tour and this mob has snowballed since then. And before I go to bed, perhaps a little tired and emotional, so take this with a pinch of salt if you need to, I have to say, what a bunch of twats.

Most of them weren’t there for the first session today. Either too hung over, or couldn’t be arsed because they thought England would lose quickly. It made the first session a pleasantly focussed and old-fashioned tense bit of test cricket though so I’m not complaining. They turned up at the first interval and spent most of the time singing songs about themselves. Never about the team or the match situation. Just about how wonderful they are. They call this football culture. But I love that culture, I’ve lived it all my life, and it isn’t. We sing songs about the team. We sing songs about the match. We don’t sing songs about a narrow fan group and how great we are.

Might not be what you are supposed to say, but my God they are tedious. The team has been frustrating. The country has been lovely. They have been the most unnecessary part of the entire trip. Someone called them a jolly boys outing which very occasionally let some cricket interfere. Spot on. Don’t know why anyone bangs on about how great they are.
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If that's how they see themselves then they look more like one of these embarrassing European cliquey ultra groups than a proper football supporters group.
 
puntilla said:
I heard a few years back they weren’t going to support England in Bangladesh because of ‘risks’ etc which confirmed what I’ve always thought about that lot anyway. A great reason for actually going in the future!
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Foreign office explicitly warned people about traveling to that one due to security risks. That’s why only about 20 went (still did Jerusalem each morning).

I’ve been lucky to do a lot of England cricket abroad and have always found the people involved in them welcoming and inclusive. To say it’s a clique isn’t fair imo, cos if you’re going to go around the world you’re going to form close friendships.

Thought the support they’ve offered these first two tests has been mint tbh.

If that sounds like an advertorial for them I should add that I’ve spent nowt with them, ever. Done the odd ‘fan night’ though which have been very good.

In terms of their official tour part, it’s pricey but that’s no different to any other tour operator. Seems to be a lot of older couples go via that route but in the main the vast majority go independently.
 
NorthCountryBoy said:
Foreign office explicitly warned people about traveling to that one due to security risks. That’s why only about 20 went (still did Jerusalem each morning).

I’ve been lucky to do a lot of England cricket abroad and have always found the people involved in them welcoming and inclusive. To say it’s a clique isn’t fair imo, cos if you’re going to go around the world you’re going to form close friendships.

Thought the support they’ve offered these first two tests has been mint tbh.

If that sounds like an advertorial for them I should add that I’ve spent nowt with them, ever. Done the odd ‘fan night’ though which have been very good.

In terms of their official tour part, it’s pricey but that’s no different to any other tour operator. Seems to be a lot of older couples go via that route but in the main the vast majority go independently.
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Supposedly 40k English are travelling over the 5 tests. Barmy army have sold approx 2k packages.
 
LynchMob said:
I looked at joining when I was in the West Indies, spoke to them about future tours and trips and the prices they were quoting to go on their tours was extortion! Hence the conversation went no further, they seem to be very profitable for the few and stuff the many (gullible) idiots!!
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Considering your in decent hotels and breakfast and dinner is included and some nights the bar in the hotel, not all I add.

I found the trip relaxing, free travel to and from ground.

But your right we couldn't sit with them in the ground. Good trip if you avoid them tho.

Just used them for the freebies.

Note 300 quids worth of merch etc.
 
Dan..Dan..Dan..Dan said:
Are you able to get tickets as far away as possible from them?

I’d like to see England abroad but these arseholes put me off. New Zealand would probably be first choice.
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They usually inhabit the same part of the ground every venue/tour so easily avoided with a bit of research.

I went to Cape Town a few years ago and the cost all in as an independent traveller was £1.2k including tickets. The BA wanted over £3k. All the tour operators charge through the nose so they're not unique.
 
I knew them when they first started, particularly dave peacock. one of my good mates at the time was the first person to sell their merch out of his backpack in the grounds (balls and chains t-shirts). he got kicked out of a few grounds for it. dave would buy his ticket to get back in if needed and paid for him for tours after that as well.

they are good lads, but yes the whole barmy army thing is very cliquey. they only join in chants that they start and complete radio silence if anyone else has the audacity to try to start one themselves. drastically improved the atmosphere and experience in general though and as chunks said a way better alternative to the fanatics.
 
I went with Gullivers Travels but still ended up with seats in the Barmy Army enclosure.
 
elder said:
I knew them when they first started, particularly dave peacock. one of my good mates at the time was the first person to sell their merch out of his backpack in the grounds (balls and chains t-shirts). he got kicked out of a few grounds for it. dave would buy his ticket to get back in if needed and paid for him for tours after that as well.

they are good lads, but yes the whole barmy army thing is very cliquey. they only join in chants that they start and complete radio silence if anyone else has the audacity to try to start one themselves. drastically improved the atmosphere and experience in general though and as chunks said a way better alternative to the fanatics.
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I still see Dave a few times a year at the races.
Think he was going out for the first 3 tests and seeing his daughter who works in Sydney
Still on top form
 
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