Despite England's Aggressive Cricket's Implosion, this Loyal Fan Group's Crew of Seasoned Tourists Is Unmoved.

Take heart, soldier. England's side might be entering the third Ashes Test now 2-0 down, yet some remain among supporters is disheartened. Exists one collective tailor-made for these circumstances, a unwavering unit who can lay claim to be the quintessential doomsday preppers. Have your dreams been shattered? Do you feel the weight beneath the weight of crushing defeat? Well then, rally to the Barmy Army.

Pioneers Converge on an Anniversary City

Already, their early arrivals are descending upon Adelaide, the city where they first came together 30 years ago. England's iconic – and by headcount most vocal – away supporters will be hoping for an celebratory against-all-odds victory, like the one they celebrated on that historic tour. And regardless of the result on the pitch, in the stands and bars the parties will be protracted and hearty.

"The cricket's been extremely disappointing," he admits, "however we're the lucky ones, because we're on holiday. It's likely harder for the people at home."

Even a dramatic batting collapse fails to deter this band of seasoned campaigners. They've been enduring England's batting collapse since before the latest star were born. They've witnessed more fielding errors than some bowlers have Test wickets. Their touring history as an Ashes away contingent is: played 37, lost 27, won 6. The people who understand how to survive a series sweep, they are the long-standing fans.

A Highly Visible Force In Coverage

Without a doubt, if you're watching, the Barmy Army are seen to be ubiquitous in this contest. TV directors at the grounds often appear keener to feature the Barmies than in their own fans. Broadcasters regularly use them as banter-primed prelude to a day's play. Even the athletes on the field acknowledge them, as a supporter portraying a royal figure leading a rendition of a patriotic song.

From Travellers to Institution

One could argue that the Barmy Army's combination of longevity and visibility has now obscured quite how remarkable their rise of travelling fandom has been. Three decades ago a few backpackers were brought together in comical self-deprecation at England's dismal away record. Now their legacy is so intertwined with the men's Test side that their boisterous, "unconventional" crowd is virtually an accepted institution. They've definitely come a long way since the early days.

One original still remembers the buoyant hope of the opening day of that formative tour. With the Australians building a solid score, he led a modest conga in the stands, winding up the locals with a song about convicts. "Home supporters hurled abuse at us, then threw plastic cups – the stuff that we occasionally encounter today," he says. "However when we got back our little group of England followers had all taken part."

Earning Appreciation On the Field

After defeat, England's tour faced further difficulties. Any supporter backing the team around the country surely was truly dedicated. As the tour reached the Melbourne and Sydney matches their ranks had swelled substantially. Those on the field, however, genuinely enjoyed their noise at the grounds. When England secured a face-saving victory, a team captain invited a fan leader up to the victory celebration to direct the revelry. Such camaraderie has endured.

An Maturing Business

Furthermore, the significant volume the Barmy Army can muster are as valuable to the English game as they are to host grounds. On this tour alone, their travel packages will bring thousands of supporters. A variety of activities are scheduled for the significant birthday.

This is, ultimately, an organisation born of cricketing passion and entrepreneurial spirit. The reason they date themselves to a specific Test is because that was when they started selling merchandise. The limited early stock was so immediately successful – and profitable – that it launched a commercial operation. Over the years, the co-founders have helped turn a fan community into an industry-leading sports tourism business.

Modern Challenges

That creates its own complexities, notably at a time when sport is looking to shed some of its rowdy image. The Barmy Army's leadership are quick to note that a significant portion of their supporters on tour are now female. As norms evolve, the chants have had to get more family-friendly, too. "Comments that you'd say 30 years ago you must avoid now, and that's correct," says a representative. "We can't tell someone how to behave within the confines of their seat, but we won't support songs that are derogatory."

{A Changing Demographics?

Could the Barmy Army become more sedate? The average supporter age is now nearing the late 40s – like the founders themselves, who have been happy to step away from the day-to-day running. One founder is savouring this tour purely as a punter – leaving a fresh team to manage the Barmy Army's digital presence. "It's easy to overlook how challenging it used to be to coordinate with each other," he chuckles. "Our method was all by meeting up – 'everyone's going to the pub!'"

Regarding this Ashes series, the impossible dream of a 3-2 turnaround still lingers, which is very mid-90s indeed. In the event England do lose in Adelaide … well, South Africa next Christmas looks nice.