P EOPLE
CHRIS MILLARD ILLARD He is responsible for one of the most famous and popular supporters’ organisations in world sport – the Barmy Army. Here, Chris Millard offers SportsNation an insight into the world of the organisation which helps cricket-mad men and women to follow the England team around the world.
S
et up by former British Airways employee Paul Burnham and his two friends, with a vision to make watching cricket more fun, The Barmy Army was formed during the 1994-95 Ashes Tour to Australia. Ironically,
it was the Aussie media who first came up with the label Barmy Army, to describe the “completely mad” English fans who travelled to the other side of the world despite the near-certain knowledge their team would get beaten – and then carried on loudly cheering their heroes even when losing. In 2018, Chris Millard, boyhood friend of England cricket captain Joe Root, was appointed the Barmy Army’s managing director. It was just three years since he had joined the group on a work placement, after completing a university degree in sports development. Millard spoke to SportsNation about how Barmy Army now looks to grow and expand as a company.
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Formed during the Ashes tour of 1994-95, the Barmy Army concept has developed into a business
