One of the nation’s most storied cricket clubs is appealing to its members and well-wishers for help as it seeks to return to its former glory. Fusionzz Boutique Spartan Cricket Club was last weekend demoted from the Barbados Cricket Association
Three-Day Elite Division as the 2024 season ended. The 2019 Elite champions will compete in Division One for the 2025 season.
Spartan’s president, Andre Marshall, responded swiftly to sharp criticism from former Barbados and West Indies spinner Tony Howard, whom Marshall described as “an esteemed former player and stalwart of our club.” In an article entitled,
“Spartan ‘small part of gloom’” Howard was quoted as stating: “Spartan is just the name… Spartan is not a club anymore.”
On Friday, Marshall, on behalf of the management and executive committee of Spartan, extended an olive branch to Howard, emphasising the importance of the nation’s first Black club, founded in 1893, and producing such legendary players as Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Wes Hall. Marshall noted that he was touched by Howard’s article.
“This extract, more than any other, has brought hurt and distress to myself and colleagues at the Spartan Club,” he said. “We have strived earnestly with great effort and in many cases personal sacrifice to maintain the majesty of the club and keep the legacy alive.
Spartan remains more than just a name. It is a critical part of the fabric of the game of cricket in Barbados and we continue to produce players who have represented Barbados and West Indies at all levels.
“While we face significant challenges, we are resolute and resilient and will always see Spartan as more than a name, more than a club — we are an institution and will always conduct our business in a way that represents the high ideals which our founders fought for more than 130 years ago.”
Marshall said that the present leadership of the club has previously reached out to those who they expect to have the organisation’s best interests at heart. Through his Friday missive, he reiterated his call to supporters of the club to make a tangible contribution to help return Spartan to its rightful place in Barbados cricket.
“We would like to reach out to Mr Howard and all other former legends, stalwarts, players, fans, well-wishers, and stakeholders to return to Queen’s Park. On occasions we made attempts to re-engage our beloved past members, and though we have received acknowledgement and support, we had hoped for more goodwill.
In other words, help us help Spartan and by extension help Barbados.
“Again, we use this opportunity to reconnect and reconcile any grievances which might exist — whether real or imagined.
The Spartan door is always open for all our stalwarts and any others who would like to join the Spartan family which would benefit this great institution.
“At this time in our storied history, what we need most now is support and encouragement not pity and condemnation. We will continue to stand on our feet.” (PR)
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