President of the Spartan Cricket Club in Barbados, Andre Marshall, has sent out a plea to stalwarts of the institution to help bring it back to its glory days.

Synonymous with success in Barbados cricket, the club, founded in 1893, has produced the likes of Sir Clyde Walcott, Wes Hall, Suleiman Benn and Shamarh Brooks, all of whom have represented the West Indies at the highest level.

Recently, however, the club has fallen on hard times.

Those hard times culminated with them being relegated from the Elite Division League, the top tier of Bajan local cricket, to the Division One League, the second tier, for next season.

Former Spartan player Tony Howard, in an article in the Nation Newspaper titled “Spartan ‘small part of gloom,’” ripped the club using quotes such as “Spartan is just the name … Spartan is not a club anymore.”

This article prompted a response from Marshall in a statement on Friday.

“This extract, more than any other, has brought hurt and distress to myself and colleagues at the Spartan Club. 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,” he said.

It continued: “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 then went on to reach out to Howard specifically as well as other stalwarts of the club to lend a helping hand.

“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,” he said.

“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,” he added.