The Barmy Army, England’s travelling band of vocal supporters desperately needs some musical help at Headingley tomorrow as Andrew Strauss and the lads try to wrestle back the Ashes from Ricky Ponting’s beleaguered Australians.

4BR help

And the Barmy Army has asked 4BR to try and help them do just that!

Unfortunately, the Fourth Test will not be accompanied by the dulcet tones of Billy Cooper, the Barmy Army’s official trumpeter, as he has been banned from bringing his instrument to the game.

First morning

Katy Cooke from the Barmy Army told 4BR: "We need some musical help on the first morning of the game from brass musicians.

"We need to meet up outside the Leeds Rhino’s Social Club, just at the back of the ground at 9.00am where we hope to have plenty of media coverage on the morning of the game.

"As long as people can come along and can play a few lines of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘The Great Escape’ we are sure the cameras will be there to report on it. Billy’s trumpet may be banned from the ground, but the music will still be heard!”

The story has created a great deal of interest around the world, so there is sure to be plenty of media coverage as we show people what great support England will be missingKaty Cooke

Calls to action

Yorkshire Chief Executive, Stewart Regan has said that Billy’s impromptu musical motifs could be misinterpreted as ‘calls to action’ for the crowd, who have already given the Aussies a fair bit of good natured banter – Ponting especially.

Billy himself has gone on holiday with his family to prepare himself for what could be the crucial final test at the Oval.

Irony

The irony is that the test takes place in the heartland of brass playing in the country – Yorkshire.

Media interest

Katy added: "The story has created a great deal of interest around the world, so there is sure to be plenty of media coverage as we show people what great support England will be missing."

Contact

So if you can make it to the ground and offer England some musical support then you need to contact Katy either on 07500 787245 or e-mail her on katy@barmyarmy.com