IT’S ASHES WEEK. One of the biggest occasions of the sporting year is here, and with it we have a special show unlike any other we’ve done before. The Barmy Army is so influential it has made it into the Oxford Dictionary: to quote…it is a term for a group of passionate, noisy, and dedicated fans who support the English national cricket team, especially during overseas tours. For over 30 years, they’ve built incredible atmospheres by leveraging trumpets, original songs and bucket hats so fashionable they’re found all over Glastonbury.
But did you know behind this infamous group sits a hugely successful business, with a responsibility to bring the best experiences to the thousands of touring fans under their banner. Chris Millard is the man in charge of the Barmy Army, and in a 6 week period that will no doubt have them front and centre of sports news as 40,000 England fans descend on Australia, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look at the organisation that defines fandom ...