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Barmy Army

F

Fleagle

Midfield
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.
 

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!!
 
Silly Point said:
Like any supporters club it does seem rather cliquey and unable to see or accept that anyone may have negative opinions of the team.
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I think that misses it a bit though for me.

First, they almost never sing about the team. I would say that 80% of the songs are about the barmy army. 10% England. 10% the players. We wouldn’t put up with that shit for a clique of lads fans

Second, i think it differs from football culture in other ways too. We are more than capable about having a go at the team. Perhaps we do so too much. But certainly, if we could imagine a football equivalent to when someone played a shot like Gus Atkinson did, after Ben Stokes batted for three hours the way he did trying to grind out a result, I am sure he would’ve got dogs abuse from fans. The twat.
 
Fleagle said:
I think that misses it a bit though for me.

First, they almost never sing about the team. I would say that 80% of the songs are about the barmy army. 10% England. 10% the players. We wouldn’t put up with that shit for a clique of lads fans

Second, i think it differs from football culture in other ways too. We are more than capable about having a go at the team. Perhaps we do so too much. But certainly, if we could imagine a football equivalent to when someone played a shot like Gus Atkinson did, after Ben Stokes batted for three hours the way he did trying to grind out a result, I am sure he would’ve got dogs abuse from fans. The twat.
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Yeh,but a large majority of cricket crowds nowadays are groups of jolly boys days out. Most don't have a great knowledge or interest in cricket. As long as the lyrics aren't obscene and they're not violent but enjoying themselves it's harmless even though tedious and distracting for the genuine cricket lover. On the positive side they're contributing significantly to both the local and cricket economy.
The only well-attended games retaining traditional subdued behaviour I have attended recently have been 1day games on outgrounds
 
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!
 
I was over there in 2002 and 2010, when the BA was mainly a younger crowd of backpackers or people having a years work experience in Oz.

Now they look like an embarrassing older crowd and some of their songs are a bit cringeworthy.

I’d always travel independently as it’s part of the fun
 
Eggman said:
I was over there in 2002 and 2010, when the BA was mainly a younger crowd of backpackers or people having a years work experience in Oz.

Now they look like an embarrassing older crowd and some of their songs are a bit cringeworthy.

I’d always travel independently as it’s part of the fun
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Definitely more genuine fans then.
 
I was sat with them in Brisbane each day. Was harmless good natured fun but the crowd was full of blokey bores. Person next to me was just constantly bragging about hotel points and platinum status he was on between balls. No mention of the cricket. Was noticeable that the Mags all wore their football tops constantly around Brisbane. Barmy Army must make a fortune on all their tours, tatty merchandise and functions.
 
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One of my big ambitions is to watch England abroad and hopefully it's something I'll do in the next few years. The easiest option in terms of logistics would be to join the Barmies, if we put cost to that side. To be honest though, I find them all a bit cringey, football style banter, standing up all game, the f***ing trumpet being played all day. I'm not sure I'd last a full day in amongst them.
 
The Breen Machine said:
One of my big ambitions is to watch England abroad and hopefully it's something I'll do in the next few years. The easiest option in terms of logistics would be to join the Barmies, if we put cost to that side. To be honest though, I find them all a bit cringey, football style banter, standing up all game, the f***ing trumpet being played all day. I'm not sure I'd last a full day in amongst them.
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I went to hyderabad for the test that we won. You don't need to be a paid up member of the barmy army to get access to tickets. Also that finchy bloke who plays the trumpet was at a bar after we won and he was going on like a right wanker in there
 
Daft as it sounds id like to experience both. 1. in the midst of the barmy army at edgebaston going nuts with england getting stuck into aus. 2. Could never happen but sat among the mcc members at Lords watching a top class opening batsman for eng build an innings against a good aus attack sipping on a gin and tonic relaxing. The 1st uns more likely mind.
 
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.
 
It’s just a corporate club now anyway that only exists ti make the top brass money and to feel important on away tours. They try and dictate what the crowd should behave like too unbelievably given how they were formed.
 
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