Vic Flowers
Victor "Vic" Flowers is a cricket supporter from Oldham, England and is often referred to as the unofficial leader of the Barmy Army.[1] He is also known as Jimmy due to bearing a resemblance to Jimmy Savile.[2]
Barmy Army activities
Flowers first joined the Barmy Army in 1998 after being inspired by the England supporters in Melbourne.[2] It was also reported that he sold all of his possessions to follow England regularly.[3] Flowers at England games is known for leading the Barmy Army in their singing.[2] He is considered such a recognisable asset for the Barmy Army, that his travel expenses are covered by the Barmy Army.[4] At games he usually wears a singlet[5] and a top hat with a St. George's Cross on it.[6][7] In 2006 he led criticism of Cricket Australia for their ticketing policies at the Gabba after they split up English fans and ejected Billy Cooper, the Barmy Army's trumpet player.[8]
Flowers' actions have also led him into trouble. He was once barred [9] from attending an Ashes match at Headingley Stadium in 2009 by the England and Wales Cricket Board but due to intervention from Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Stewart Regan, this was overturned.[10] In addition, later in 2009 when attending a Test match in Durban, South Africa with the Barmy Army, Flowers was attacked by two men who knocked him to the ground and then hit him with a flag.[citation needed] He was once ejected from the Adelaide Oval by the police during the 2010–11 Ashes series for being lifted onto fans shoulders but was permitted to re-enter later in the game after an angry reaction at his ejection from England fans.[11]
Personal life
Flowers is a Roman Catholic and has 19 children, but has not seen them for 20 years.[2]
References
- ^ Reynolds, Nigel (2007-01-06). "Barmy Army looks on the bright side". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ a b c d "The Barmy Army: 'We've got some real oddballs and that's brilliant'". The Times. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ King, Ed (2004-03-13). "Confusion and passion". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Fan-tastic support". Sky Sports. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Ronay, Barney. "The Barmy Army are no laughing matter". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (2010-12-30). "Ashes urn gives Army its finest hour". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ "Barmy Army general leads his troops". Courier Mail. 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Security kill-joy claim". Courier Mail. 2006-11-24. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ "Headingley silences Barmy Army trumpeter". 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ "Barmy Army leader Vic Flowers barred from the first day's play". The Mirror. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Jean, David (2010-12-05). "Ashes shocker drives the Army barmy". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 2011-10-05.