Barmy Army

English

Etymology

An English football chant, in which supporters of a team would chant that they were the team manager's "barmy army", was applied to a particularly "barmy" group of supporters who followed the English cricket team to Australia in 1994–95 despite the team being seen as having little prospect of success.

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Proper noun

Barmy Army

(cricket) An organised group of cricket fans which arranges touring parties of its members to follow the English cricket team on all of its overseas tours.
(by extension) The England supporters in other sports, for example those of the England national football team.
- 2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline‎:
  The Barmy Army burst into life, and the sheer numbers of those supporting the Three Lions became evident as the stadium bowl vibrated in tune with their chants.