‘Class act’ – how BBC Radio 5 Live and Barmy Army have kept Adelaide tidy

While visiting Australia, at least one English touring group is praising themselves.

England’s cricketers may be playing in the Ashes, but the visiting fans have endeared themselves to the locals by removing their trash from the iconic grassy banks at the Adelaide Oval during the third Test, with the assistance of Elly Oldroyd from BBC Radio 5 Live.

On earlier this week, Barmy Army supporters’ group member Charlie Smith received a gentle nudge from Oldroyd when he appeared on 5 Live Breakfast.

You lot have left that in a state, I said as I looked out. That place is a mess, according to Oldroyd. “The hill was littered all over.

On day two, Charlie travels to a local supermarket, picks up a roll of bin bags, distributes them, and clears it all up.

“I applaud Charlie, Barmy Army, and 5 Live Breakfast for making it happen,” I said.

Following a video of the clean-up that local media posted on social media, a throwback to Japanese football teams cleaning up their dressing rooms following World Cup games, the supporters have received a lot of praise.

Smith told the BBC, “I felt a little embarrassed after witnessing the mess on day one.”

“I believed we should do better,” he said. We had a lot of people there.

The South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, described the England fans as a “class act.”

He said, “This only adds to the fantastic atmosphere they bring to the Ashes and they are always welcome back to SA.”

Over the previous two days, Smith claimed they had collected 30 bags worth of trash.

All of the young people were straight on the bin bags when I started handing them out, he said.

“We did it once more today, and even more people came in – it was heartfelt.

“We were thrilled,” said the staff, police, and the press. They claimed they had never witnessed it before.