Naprzód Lipiny

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GKS Naprzód Świętochłowice Lipiny - a sports club from Swietochlowice’s district of Lipiny (Upper Silesia, Poland), founded in 1920. Throughout the years, the club for many times changed name. In 1920-1939 and then in 1945-1965 it was Naprzód Lipiny, in 1939-1945 - during German occupation - Turn und Sportverein (TuS) Lipine. In 1965-1969 - Naprzód-Czarni Świętochłowice (after merge of clubs Naprzód Lipiny and Czarni Chropaczów). Since 1969 to this day - SKS Naprzód Świętoch łowice.

For many years Naprzod was a significant force of Polish soccer, even though the team has never managed to win promotion to the Polish Soccer League. In interwar Poland, Lipiny’s side was for many times champion of strong, regional Upper-Silesian league (1929, 1931, 1933, 1937). Back then, in late 30s, some Naprzod’s players were key members of Polish National Team (brothers Ryszard Piec and Wilhelm Piec, also Erwin Michalski). Also, Naprzod’s own Rochus Nastula was in late 20s one of best scorers of the League (while representing Czarni Lwow). Another famous Naprzod’s player is Antoni Piechniczek, who represented the team in the 60s.

During the Second World War, German occupiers changed club’s name to Turn und Sportverein (TuS) Lipine. The team, with Piec brothers, was in 1942/43 a sensation of Tschammer Cup - Cup of Germany (DFB Pokal) games. TuS reached as far as semifinals of the tournament, only then losing 0-6 to professionals from TSV 1860 Munich.

After the war, Naprzod in 1949 won promotion to newly created Second Division. It played there in the years 1949-1952 and 1955-1962. Twice Lipiny’s side was very close to winning promotion to First Division, however referees and soccer authorities did not like Naprzod and in mysterious circumstances, teams of Arkonia Szczecin and Gwardia Warszawa finished games in front of it. In 1950/51, Naprzod reached the quarter-finals of Cup of Poland. Currently, the team plays in Upper Silesian, regional B-class.

Naprzod, however, is famous not only for its soccer team, but also boxers (Lipiny’s Jerzy Rudzki was for three times boxing champion of Poland - 1931, 1932, 1933) and table-tennis players (team champions of Poland in 1947, 1948 and 1950.