With a bit of song they cheer them on
Relaxing in the sun: Members of the Barmy Army taking in the cricket at Galle
This is the Barmy Army, England’s travelling group of cricket supporters. There’s a story behind that name. During The Ashes, Test cricket series played between England and Australia in 1994/ 1995, the die-hard English fans were making such an impact on the rest of the spectators chanting encouragement to the England cricket team who was losing the game, that the Australian press dubbed them the Barmy Army. The name stuck.
Around 300 to 400 official Barmy Army members and 3,000 associate members are in Sri Lanka for the current England tour – people from all different backgrounds, from doctors to electricians. Especially due to the low exchange rate, travelling to Sri Lanka is relatively inexpensive. Beer is cheaper in Sri Lanka than in England, exclaimed some. Some came to escape the gloomy British winter while others said they came to escape their wives.
Steve and Liz Creech
“The Barmy Army is passionate, sportive and a friendly culture,” says Chris Millard, Managing Director of the Barmy Army, explaining how they write their own songs. “We have different songs for every player of the team. Billy the Trumpet gives a tune and everybody gets together and sings.” Billy Cooper is the trumpet player of the Barmy Army and at 10 in the morning when the match started he played the trumpet from the old Dutch fort, while the Barmy Army sang.
Dave Burton, a diehard English fan, and active member of the Barmy Army was having fun with his friend Steve. Dave’s first Barmy Army tour was in 2002 to Australia for his 50th birthday. “Our victories are a celebration in traditional Barmy Army style with a few drinks and singing until the early hours in the morning,” Dave laughs.
Philip Pedley
For Chas, being a part of the Barmy Army is “a fantastic way of life.” “Every day is a crazy day in the Barmy Army with a bit of singing, few drinks and bit of a
Chris Millard
party.” He counts England’s Test victory over Australia during the Ashes series in 2005 as his most memorable tour moment.
Liam Brown is from Newcastle while his son Patrick lives in Melbourne, Australia.They decided to meet in Sri Lanka and catch the Test match. Liam and
Patrick are not staying for the whole tour as “it’s a long time to get off work,” says Patrick who works in real estate. Liam is retired from local government services in England and is certainly glad to be away from the winter. “Within the Barmy Army, everyone is very friendly,” says Patrick.
Amidst the sea of English cricket supporters, we met a young group of cricket fans of the Oundle School, Northamptonshire. They play in their own Ramblers Cricket Club, pointing out the green Ramblers flag hoisted on the fort wall. Philip Pedley is travelling with the team on the tour. “One of our missions as a team is to meet local people,” Philip says, slightly disppointed that there are so few Sri Lankans at the Galle International Stadium to cheer the Sri Lankan team. 95% of the stadium is filled with English fans.
Chas
Dave Burton
Many fans preferred to come independently, and travel in smaller groups than come as a part of the official Barmy Army. Richard Mann is with the Bowling Stone Cricket Club based in Gloucestershire, a newly formed group, of whom seven members came to Sri Lanka with their matching caps and T-shirts that they had custom made with their club logo. “Galle is one of the most beautiful grounds in
the whole world. It’s definitely a tick in the box of the bucket list,” Richard says. He was able to meet and take a picture with the English Test Captain Joe Root, he tells us, noting that he would have never been able to get a chance like that in England.
Steve and Liz Creech whom we met on the Galle Dutch Fort ramparts are with the Barmy Army. Arriving in Sri Lanka for the entire five week tour, Steve says, “We follow our sport and it’s an excuse to travel around the world, meet new people and visit countries.” Adding to that Carl, a fan on his very first tour of Sri Lanka, believes that travelling and cricket is a fantastic combination.
We can’t but agree.
English flags displayed on the Fort walls. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi