Vic Flowers
Encyclopedia
Victor "Vic" Flowers is a cricket supporter from Oldham
, England
and is often referred to as the unofficial leader of the Barmy Army
. He is also known as Jimmy due to bearing a resemblance to Jimmy Savile
.
. It was also reported that he sold all of his possessions to follow England regularly. Flowers at England games is known for leading the Barmy Army in their singing. He is considered such a recognisable asset for the Barmy Army, that his travel expenses are covered by the Barmy Army. At games he usually wears a singlet and a top hat
with a St. George's Cross on it. In 2006 he led criticism of Cricket Australia
for their ticketing policies at The Gabba after they split up English fans and ejected the Barmy Army's trumpet player.
Flowers' actions have also led him into trouble. He was once barred 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. 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. He was once thrown out of the Adelaide Oval
by the police during the 2010–11 Ashes series
but was permitted to re-enter later in the game after an angry reaction at his ejection from England fans.
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and is often referred to as the unofficial leader of the Barmy Army
Barmy Army
The Barmy Army is a semi-organised group of English cricket fans which arranges touring parties for some of its members to follow the English cricket team on overseas tours...
. He is also known as Jimmy due to bearing a resemblance to Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
.
Barmy Army activities
Flowers first joined the Barmy Army in 1998 after being inspired by the England supporters in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It was also reported that he sold all of his possessions to follow England regularly. Flowers at England games is known for leading the Barmy Army in their singing. He is considered such a recognisable asset for the Barmy Army, that his travel expenses are covered by the Barmy Army. At games he usually wears a singlet and a top hat
Top hat
A top hat, beaver hat, high hat silk hat, cylinder hat, chimney pot hat or stove pipe hat is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, predominantly worn from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century...
with a St. George's Cross on it. In 2006 he led criticism of Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
for their ticketing policies at The Gabba after they split up English fans and ejected the Barmy Army's trumpet player.
Flowers' actions have also led him into trouble. He was once barred from attending an Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
match at Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
in 2009 by the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
but due to intervention from Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
Chief Executive Stewart Regan
Stewart Regan
Stewart Regan is the current Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association. He was appointed to the position on 28 July 2010, replacing Gordon Smith....
, this was overturned. In addition, later in 2009 when attending a Test match in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with the Barmy Army, Flowers was attacked by two men who knocked him to the ground and then hit him with a flag. He was once thrown out of the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
by the police during the 2010–11 Ashes series
2010–11 Ashes series
The 2010–11 Ashes series was played in Australia as part of the England cricket team's tour of Australia during the 2010–11 cricket season. Five Tests were played from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011...
but was permitted to re-enter later in the game after an angry reaction at his ejection from England fans.