England Fans A Credit To Their nation.>

[Ernest]

I think it is more than fair to post a sister thread, to the one on the Australian forum here .

I think the England fans/supporters are the best in the world.

look at the lengths they go to just to lend their support to England.

What other national cricket team in the world, can boast they have the numbers of travelling supporters, that is the Barmy Army.they have come in for some stick from some quarters, but what a boost they must be for the England team, they will visit any country were England are playing, regardless of the distance.

Even our home support is good, and well behaved, exept for the odd streaker.
The travelling Barmy Army have been called noisy, so what they inject quite a lot of atmosphere into a game, noisy,
yes, good humoured, yes, a credit to England cricket, yes.a credit to the English and Welsh nations ,YES.

Anyone think the Barmy Army would spoil the game?, or would they annoy anyone?, or would you be proud to attend the same test Match as them?.
I know what I think!!

[Chuck Palumbo]

Agreed Ern, the barmy army are a credit to our nation- The way they get behind the team is unbeliveable, even when we are losing they just keep on singing- The last test against SA being a good example. They are all whats good about supporting a team-unlike their national sides football counterparts.

[Rachael]

Don't you think you're a little biased Ernest?

Cricket venues around the world pull in crowds.. and each has a fairly distinctive flavour. Some would prefer the atmosphere of a ODI on the subcontinent.. others would prefer the carnival atmosphere at a WI ground.. and others would prefer the relative calm that once characterised English grounds.

I think it's equally true that overseas nationals have long brought something different to UK cricket grounds: the turnout of those with WI links for some of the great Eng-WI contests of the past was significant enough to grab a substantial amount of media attention... and the same has been true of the turnout for some of the games involving India or Pakistan.

It might well be that with the strong pound making travel more affordable and the strong economy ensuring more people have the means to indulge... and the current fad for such relatively extravagent and self indulgent habits... more English folk are heading out to overseas Tests.. but does that make them any "better" than others who are less able to afford to travel.. less able to get the visas to travel... and just less able to justify making such travel a priority given the other pressures and obligations they face?

I should also point out that the British contingent extends a LONG way past the "barmy army": whether here or overseas you will find Brits in corporate hospitality boxes.. and at home you'll find them in the member's stands as well. The barmy army get the attention of the tabloids.. but I'd suggest that my father in law.. who moved heaven and earth (when in the insurance business) to get into a corporate box at Headingly every year... and who might, given different circumstances, have gone on to play for Yorkshire in his youth... is just as representative.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Interesting. ENGLAND fans are a credit to the nation ENGLISH fans I'd argue not. English cricket fans dont support their counties on the whole with most county games like a morgue 3 days out of 4, barmy army memebers included. However ALL the traveling fans Barmy Army members and the rest do their level best to make every match a home one and that is a credit to them.

The barmy army are not representative of the all england supporters, but a I'd argue businessman in a corporate box isnt representative either. I think most would spend an hour (no more than that in most cases) in both camps. Admit it Rachael, after a few Pimms you'd jion in a sing song with the barmy army for a bit

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Chuck Palumbo

Agreed Ern, the barmy army are a credit to our nation- The way they get behind the team is unbeliveable, even when we are losing they just keep on singing- The last test against SA being a good example. They are all whats good about supporting a team-unlike their national sides football counterparts.

Well Rachael, Chuck says it all, we were getting beat in the 3rd Test, we all knew we wre going to get beat, it was inevitable, but the Barmy Army as Chuck Points out just kept singing, no bitterness no booing, this must have been a relief to the England players, imagine what would have been going through their minds, had they been boo'd offf the field.

Originally Posted by Rachael

It might well be that with the strong pound making travel more affordable and the strong economy ensuring more people have the means to indulge... and the current fad for such relatively extravagent and self indulgent habits..

No doubt a strong pound helps Rachael, but you lnow as well as I do that is only a small part of the Barmy Army following, and I think it is a lot more than a fad, fads die away, and what are these extravagent, and self indulgent habits?,do you mean they can afford ro buy a few pints if Lager, as well as the plane fair.
Sounds to me like the 60s policy of envy that I thought was dead.

Originally Posted by Rachael

I should also point out that the British contingent extends a LONG way past the "barmy army": whether here or overseas you will find Brits in corporate hospitality boxes.. and at home you'll find them in the member's stands as well.

I totaly agree my thread is named "England Fans A Credit To Their nation.> ", counts all fans/supporters Barmy Army or otherwise.

Originally Posted by Rachael

I think it's equally true that overseas nationals have long brought something different to UK cricket grounds: the turnout of those with WI links for some of the great Eng-WI contests of the past was significant enough to grab a substantial amount of media attention... and the same has been true of the turnout for some of the games involving India or Pakistan.

Again I agree with your "principal", these fans/supporters are not like the Barmy Army, in this respect, they are not travelling to watch their team, most of these supporters live in Britain, we a very much a cosmapolitan nation.
I remember these matches, there was a lot of horn blowing, nothing wrong with that, but they were critisised by the TMS team for being noisy.added to the atmosphere of the game a lot of supporters would think.

I don't as a rule use the word fan in a post to you Rachael, you think I may be biased, but I have a point, England fans are as good as any in the world.

[Ernest]

Interesting point RBLC, but it has always been the same with county games, mind you the format has not changed to fit the times, big deal they thought long and hard before even allowing 4 day matches.

And the changes that brought the two divisions is crap, because Lancashire have been relegated .

Think back Richie to the Gillette Cup, and the Benson and Hedges tournaments, and we always had full houses, even the Sunday League, that used to be played on Sundays, were a big attraction, they now play Sunday League matches on weekdays when people are working.

The format needs changing to attract bigger gates, but remember most play is in the week, when people are working, and that will always be a problem.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I remember these matches, there was a lot of horn blowing, nothing wrong with that, but they were critisised by the TMS team for being noisy.added to the atmosphere of the game a lot of supporters would think.

Anyone seen Freddie's DVD "Freddie's Fireworks" ?

Freddie was criticising the Pakistan supporters, said it was a sad day to see the England players taking so much abuse from the crowd at Old Trafford in 2003.

Was anyone there? Know how bad it really was?

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

The barmy army are not representative of the all england supporters, but a I'd argue businessman in a corporate box isnt representative either. I think most would spend an hour (no more than that in most cases) in both camps.

I would prefer a Barmy Army memeber to a Business man any day. I have done the coporate box thing and often you just tucking into your pudding when the Lunch interval finishes, and I don't remeber many of them rushing out so they don't miss a ball.

It is good getting all your beer brought to you though!!!

[Beny]

I tend to dissagree that 60,000 guys and girls dressed up in costumes, drinking alchohol and acting like larrikans... are a credit to their nation, whatever that nation may be. (That's not to say I've got any problems with it)

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Pete

Anyone seen Freddie's DVD "Freddie's Fireworks" ?

Freddie was criticising the Pakistan supporters, said it was a sad day to see the England players taking so much abuse from the crowd at Old Trafford in 2003.

Was anyone there? Know how bad it really was?

The worst incident I can remember from English based Pakistan fans was when a supporter chucked a beer can at Ricky Ponting's face during a ODI tri-series between England, Pakistan and Australia. One of the worst cases of lager lout behaviour I've seen. The guy was hardly representative of Pakistan though.