BARMY ARMY GOES TROPPO
ONE of Australia’s cricket greats Andrew Symonds reckons Townsville fans will outroar and out- cheer the Barmy Army when the city hosts an Ashes tour match warm- up game in November.
North Queensland- based Symonds – who is a former Australian cricket team allrounder and two- time World Cup winner – said yesterday the Barmy Army was fantastic for the atmosphere of the game.
“I’ve seen them in very close quarters and they are an intelligent operation in the way they conduct themselves through song and so on,” he said. “They are cheeky, good spirited and fun.”
Symonds said the Barmy Army added a unique dimension to the game.
“It’ll be interesting to see the new songs they come up with when they’re in Townsville,” he said.
Symonds said it came as no surprise to him that Tony Ireland Stadium was named as the venue for England’s final Ashes warm- up match against a Cricket Australia XI from November 15- 18.
“It is great for the city to have a game of that magnitude played here,” he said. “It is a compliment because the stadium is a terrific facility.”
Tony Hampson, from Queensland Cricket, said the Barmy Army was an institution, drawing thousands to the city.
“It’s very exciting to have the Barmy Army and other cricket fans in Townsville, not only for the cricket, but for them to experience the North and go home and tell their family and friends what a great place Townsville is,” he said.
“Since the announcement on Thursday, Townsville has been placed on the tour register for the England tour party so it will be in the face of the Barmy Army and the English tourists coming over to watch the cricket.”
The Barmy Army is a semiorganised group of English cricket fans which arranges touring parties for some of its members to follow their cricket team on overseas tours.
Townsville Enterprise Tourism and Events director Bridget Woods said the Barmy Army would help attract international interest to the city.
“The Barmy Army and other cricket fans will not only help ensure the city is booked out for the event but they will be sending photos of themselves in our city via social media to the world,” she said. “The more people who see our city’s fantastic attributes the better.”
Ms Woods said the flow- on effects to hosting the warm- up Ashes game were “momentous”.
“It is a massive win for our region to have an event of this calibre coming to Townsville,” she said. “It is a national standard event and to have this event combined with events such as the V8s and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in the city is a big win.”
Ross Shaw, of Townsville Cricket, said hosting the Ashes tour warm- up match was a vote of confidence in the city.
“It is a vote of confidence in that we can host such an event and a vote of confidence in the world- class cricket facilities we have here in Townsville,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the match would be a great opportunity for children to see world- class players in action.
“I believe children, and adults for that matter, won’t forget seeing greats such as Joe Root play in their own city,” he said.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said when it came to cricket nothing compared with an Australia- England match.
“This is fantastic news for the city and sporting fans throughout the North,” Cr Hill said.
“The council has worked very closely with cricket authorities at a local, state and national level to secure the match and it’s fantastic that they have put their faith in the city.
“Townsville will attract huge attention with the leadup match before the first Test and we look forward to the influx of fans and of course the Barmy Army.”