Leeming Spartan Cricket Club Raises the Bat on 100 Years

By Aaron Kirby

The Leeming Spartan Cricket Club has reached the century mark and is looking to make it a double.

The 2018-19 cricket season is the club’s 100th.

It was first known as the Spartan Cricket Club and established in 1918 in Fremantle by Reverend WR Hibbert, as a way to re-integrate World War One soldiers back into the community.

This aim of bringing people together is still at the core of the club and members believe it’s the reason they’ve survived for 100 years.

“We welcome anyone and everyone,” said club veteran, Graham Ashley.

“Off the field, it’s just a cricket club, end of story, it does not matter who you are or what you are… you’re welcome, and I think that is a lot of why we have survived over all these years.”

Ashley has been with the Spartans for 42 years and has held just about every role within the club during that time.

The members are proud of their history and have combed through old news articles and archives to create a history and statistics page that covers all 100 seasons and is available for everyone to view.

The Spartans have won over 50 premierships in various grades since their first in 1922-23. One of Ashley’s fondest memories with the club was the drought-breaking 1992-93 grand final victory against rivals CBC Cricket Club.

He believes the victory embodies the club’s spirit.

“We were all but gone, but we fought back and ended up beating them the next day,” said Ashley.

Club Secretary Daniel Coombs says celebrating the club’s 100th season has brought them together.

“People are coming back to the club and really re-engaging, it’s just been fantastic,” said Coombs.

As a part of these celebrations, the club is returning to its roots in Fremantle to hold a black-tie gala ball at the Esplanade Hotel.

There’s also a Channel 7 documentary featuring Leeming Spartan Cricket Club that will air during the first Perth test match at Optus Stadium between Australia and India.