Soccer: They're barmy about an England win

By AINSLEY THOMSON

If England make the soccer World Cup final Barmy Army supporters in New Zealand will be easy to spot - they will all be sporting a David Beckham mohawk.

Of course such arrangements are a little premature. After all, tonight they have to beat the formidable Brazilians.

According to Barmy Army organiser Joseph Kerr this is a mere formality. England will romp home 3-1, he says.

History says otherwise. England and Brazil have met three times in past World Cups. Their first meeting in 1958 ended 0-0, and Brazil went on to win the Cup. In 1962 Brazil won 3-1. And in 1970 Brazil won 1-0, again going on to win the Cup.

These losses are adding to the tension that has been building among New Zealand's chapter of the Barmy Army over the past week.

"It's absolutely intense, it's huge," says Mr Kerr. "We're feeling anxious. A lot of the boys are saying we will win, but we're still apprehensive."

They are not alone.

Barmy Armies have sprung up all over the world, and today they are all tensely counting down to the big game.

The local chapter of the Barmy Army was started about eight years ago when Mr Kerr was spotted in a supermarket wearing an England shirt by Andrew Nash (Nasher). From this chance encounter New Zealand's Barmy Army was born.

Mr Kerr says there are two rules for members: you must have been born in England, and you must have an English football shirt and a football shirt from the English football league.

Women can belong, Mr Kerr says, but the membership is about 98 per cent male.

What do they do when they get together?

"We talk about football, totty (girls), football, the state of the nation, the Queen (we love her and won't hear a bad word said about her) and football," says Mr Kerr.

They normally get together about once a month, or whenever there is an English sporting event. And they are not fussy about which sport - cricket, soccer, rugby, netball - as long as England are playing they will be there.

There are about 40 core members, but this has swelled to around 500 in the past weeks. Over the duration of the World Cup they have been meeting for each England game.

The venue is the "home of the Barmy Army" - The Mad Dogs and Englishmen bar on Albert St.

Manager Brett Howarth says he is expecting around 700 people tonight.

Mr Kerr says 500 of them will be English supporters.

The pub has been enjoying the business the World Cup has bought in, going through about 30 50-litre barrels of beer a night.

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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