Barmy Army?

Question

Hi when ever i watch england playing in cricket or football i can hear the england supporters shouting/singing barmy army. Could anyone tell me what it means when they say it. Thanks

Answer 1

Hello I got this quote from the 'Barmy army' website

The Barmy Army is synonymous with English cricket fans travelling overseas to support their team. It was in effect created by the Australian media's description during the Ashes series in 1994/95. 'Barmy' because we were spending lots of money supporting a side that couldn't win a game of cricket; England not only lost to Australia and their second team, Australia A, but also suffered the indignity of losing to Zimbabwe and, to cap it all, the Australian Academy Side (youth team) and 'Army' because there were hundreds grouped together at each match singing and partying in concert. 'Atherton's Barmy Army' soon became established as our theme song and we were proud of our image.

Answer 2

The Barmy Army were at first looked up with some sort of amusement by opposing fans - at first.

Now they are seen as a pain in the *** by all but their own kin. They get in big groups, drinking beer & singing their silly songs to such an extent that they are becoming very tedious.

Ground seating is now allocated, in Australia, so that they are spread out & can't gather collectively as much as they did in the past.

They spoil a good game for many other cricket loving spectators.

They have become a very selfish lot & are legends only in their own lunch boxes!

Answer 3

The Barmy Army is an organised group of cricket fans which organises touring parties of its members to follow the English cricket team on all of its overseas tours. The group acquired its name during the 1994 - 1995 Test series in Australia and has represented the England fans on every tour since.

The Barmy Army has the stated goal "To make watching cricket more fun and much more popular". The group uses flags, banners, songs and chants to encourage the team and crowd participation in their activities. Australians, both players and supporters, serve especially as foils for their "wit". [neutrality disputed] [citation needed]

In contrast to the reputations of some sports fans for hooliganism, the Barmy Army organises itself thoroughly and actively discourages any unsavoury behaviour. The group engages in charity work, and has a good reputation among cricket administrators and among some other fans. However, some cricket followers find the loud, repetitive chanting of the Barmy Army to be annoying, lowbrow and disruptive.

Originally, "Barmy Army" was a Sheffield Wednesday football song sung by fans at Hillsborough Stadium from the late 1980s to early 1990s, and can still occasionally be heard at Hillsborough today. It later came into wider usage with other northern English football clubs during this time. In conjunction with the increasing appearance of English football shirts at cricket grounds in the early 1990s, the song's repetitive cry of "Barmy Army, Barmy Army, Barmy Army" transferred to domestic cricket arenas at Old Trafford and Headingley. It was particularly apparent during the 1993 Ashes tour. Throughout the 1990s, increased spending power enabled fans to take the song overseas when following tours of the English national cricket team. Because of that particular song, and the fact that it seemed to represent English fans' activity of standing in the hot sun drinking lager all day, it became a description as well as a song. Both David Lloyd and Ian Botham used the tag to describe them whilst commentating for Sky Sports during England's tours from 1993 to 1995. Only in the mid 1990s was the tag recognised as an official title for English touring cricket fans and adopted by what is now recognised as the official Barmy Army.

For more details, please check the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmy_Army

Answer 4

It means come on england come on we born to win don't get tired we are the best in the world . So they this in anytime

Answer 5

Hoots, the Tartan Army are the force to be reckoned with