Even Bazball's Downfall, this Loyal Fan Group's Band of Seasoned Tourists Remains Unshaken.
Steady, soldier. England's side might be entering the upcoming Ashes Test already 2-0 down, yet not all in English cricket is disheartened. There is one collective ideally equipped for such a situation, a crack(pot) unit who are arguably the supreme masters of adversity. Have your dreams been shattered? Do you feel the weight beneath the weight of unmet expectation? In that case, rally to the Barmy Army.
Pioneers Move In on an Anniversary City
Even now, their first wave are descending upon Adelaide, the city where they first came together 30 years ago. England's best-known – and for their size noisiest – away supporters will be dreaming of an celebratory against-all-odds victory, like the one they celebrated on that mid-90s tour. But no matter the outcome on the pitch, in the stands and bars the revelries will be protracted and hearty.
"England's performance been extremely disappointing," one founder concedes, "however we're the lucky ones, because we're on holiday. It's probably harder for the people at home."
Even Bazball's nuclear implosion doesn't trouble this band of seasoned campaigners. They've been enduring England's innings meltdowns since before a new generation started playing. They've seen more dropped catches than some bowlers have career scalps. Their collective record as an Ashes touring group stands at: played 37, lost 27, won 6. The people who understand how to survive a whitewash, that would be the founding members.
A Ever-Present Presence On Screen
Without a doubt, for viewers at home, the Barmy Army appear to be ubiquitous this series. Host broadcasters at the grounds sometimes appear keener to feature the Barmies than on their own fans. TV partners often use them as atmosphere-building prelude to a day's play. Even the players on the field are heralding them, as someone clad as a monarch conducting a singing of a patriotic song.
From Backpackers to Institution
One could argue that the Barmy Army's mix of endurance and visibility has now obscured quite how stunning their takeover of travelling fandom has been. Thirty years in the past a small group followers were brought together in good-natured self-deprecation at England's poor away record. Today their story is so intertwined with the England cricket that their colourful, "maverick" crowd is all but part of the furniture. They've definitely come a long way since the early days.
One founding member can picture the excited anticipation of the opening day of that pioneering tour. With the opposition on top, he started a six-person conga in the stands, provoking the locals with a chant about historical figures. "Home supporters hurled abuse at us, then threw drink containers – the stuff that we still get today," he says. "However when we got back our modest following of England followers had all taken part."
Earning Acclaim On the Field
After defeat, England's tour continued to struggle. Those backing the team around the country was considered barmy indeed. By the time the Melbourne and Sydney matches their numbers had increased substantially. Those on the field, however, came to value their presence at the grounds. When England secured a face-saving victory, a senior player summoned a supporter up to the victory celebration to lead the festivities. That bond has endured.
An Evolving Operation
Additionally, the sheer numbers the Barmy Army can muster are as appealing to the English game as they are to host grounds. For this series alone, their travel packages will host thousands of paying travellers. All kinds of activities are planned for the 30th anniversary.
This is, after all, an group born of love for the game and business acumen. The reason they date themselves to a Adelaide game is because that was when they started producing branded clothing. The limited early stock was so immediately successful – and lucrative – that it sparked a lasting enterprise. From that point, the co-founders have helped turn a pub-based supporters into an major sports tourism business.
Modern Evolution
That creates its own complexities, notably at a time when sport is attempting to move beyond some of its lads-lads-lads image. The Barmy Army's directors are eager to highlight that a growing percentage of their supporters on tour are now female. As times have changed, the vocals have had to get more family-friendly, too. "Comments that were common 30 years ago you cannot utter today, and that's correct," says a director. "We can't tell someone how to behave individually, but we do not endorse songs that are derogatory."
{A Natural Mellowing?
Might the Barmy Army evolve quietly? The mean age of fans is now in the late 40s – like the pioneers, who have been content to step away from the day-to-day running. One founder is enjoying this tour purely as a fan – leaving a fresh team to run the Barmy Army's social media. "You forget how challenging it used to be to coordinate with each other," he chuckles. "We used to do it all by shouting – 'everyone's going to the pub!'"
As for England's plight, the impossible dream of a historic comeback persists, which is classic Barmy Army indeed. In the event England are defeated in Adelaide … well, future travels is always an option.