None, though, have come in bigger or more colourful ways than the Barmy Army, the well-known band of England cricket supporters. They haven’t hesitated to get in and tidy up the Adelaide Oval hill during the second day of the current Test match. Charlie drove the effort to address the littering issues that surfaced after the first day of play. This initiative further demonstrated the group’s commitment to maintaining the distinctiveness of the venue.
After a disturbing experience with litter on the iconic hilltop venue, Charlie decided to do something. He purchased twenty garbage bags worth from a convenience store on the way. Next, he started recruiting his Barmy Army mates to participate in the clean-up effort. The goal of the initiative wasn’t to reforest the hill. It hoped to raise the bar to inspire other attendees of the event to do the same.
Adelaide Oval staff described the Barmy Army as “legendary” after their stunning work. One participant went so far as to post a photo of a staff member giving them the happiest of emotional “thank you, hugs.” This touching exchange underscored the truly deep feelings of gratitude patrons have for their work to ensure the venue is clean and safe.
Former Australian cricket coach Darren Lehman took to social media to support the initiative. He tweeted his approval with two clapping emojis. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas commended the Barmy Army as well, stating:
“Class act by the Barmy Army. This just adds to the great atmosphere they bring to the Ashes and they are always welcome back to SA!” – Peter Malinauskas
Cricket commentator Bharat Sundaresan was among those worried about the state of the hill after play on day one. The impact of this on the subsequent clean-up effort cannot be overstated. Countless other fans said the same in their replies, recognizing that a healthy and safe environment is clearly best for all players and participants.
The Barmy Army’s collective actions increased their goodwill with other fans. Most importantly, they demonstrated an even bigger sense of community pride by taking it upon themselves to remove litter in public spaces during large events and weekends.
“U guys are bloody legends. It’s not an ashes without you guys.”
Another supporter added,
“Great job guys, the litter looked awful after yesterday on the tv so glad you’ve got it sorted. Winning friends wherever you go.”
Charlie explained their motivation behind the clean-up, noting,
“Bit of a mess yesterday so because back in England we try our best to keep it clean so I brought in 20 bin bags from Coles this morning.”
He further emphasized the importance of taking responsibility, stating,
“Yeah the Barmy Army we’ve tried to do our bit we’ve been loud all day and now we’re just cleaning up after ourselves, leaving it as we got here.”
The collective efforts of the Barmy Army not only enhanced their reputation among fellow fans but also demonstrated a strong sense of community spirit and responsibility towards maintaining public spaces during major events.
