Wisłoka Dębica
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| Wisłoka Dębica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Klub Sportowy Wisłoka Dębica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Biało-zieloni, Biancoverde | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1908 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Stadion Wisłoki, Dębica, Poland |
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| Capacity | 6 000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Stanisław Leski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Mirosław Kalita | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Polish IIIrd League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005/2006 | Polish IVth League, 1st place | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Wisłoka Dębica, founded in 1908 by a group of Dębica's high school students, is one of the oldest existing sports clubs in Poland. The name comes from the River Wisłoka, which flows by the town of Dębica (south-east Poland, 110 kilometers East of Krakow).
[edit] Beginnings
The first sections, created in 1900/09, were bicycle racing and - later - track and field as well as skating. Soccer, the most popular sport in Poland, followed later - around 1909. The most famous athletes, representing the club, are Greco-Roman wrestlers. During the years, they won numerous medals, including Olympic, World and European Championships. Names like twins Kazimierz and Jozef Lipien, Ryszard Swierad, Jan Michalik or Roman Wroclawski are well-known by all fans of wrestling. The club is also renowned for soccer players such as Leszek Pisz and Waldemar Piatek, who started their careers there, boxers (such as vice-champion of Europe, Roman Gotfryd), and bicycle racers. Clubs hues are white and green.
[edit] Supporters
Wisłoka is widely famous for its die-hard fans. Even in times of club's misery, its supporters always attended various games and strongly believed that the good times shall be back. The best decade for the club were the 70s, when its athletes won lots of medals. Now, following a general slump in Polish sports, Wisłoka also has many financial problems. However, its numerous supporters are patient - good times will be back - sooner or later!
[edit] Wisłoka's soccer team throughout the history
[edit] First years
During the first decades of Wisłoka's existence, its soccer players did not manage to achieve anything worth mentioning. In the 20s and 30s the team would play games against sides from Tarnow, Mielec, Rzeszow or Jaslo. In 1932, one of best teams in Poland - Cracovia Krakow, came to Dębica for a friendly game. Players from Krakow did not treat this match seriously, thus white-green boys managed to draw against the famous rival.
First successes in soccer came only in the late 50s. Firstly, in 1957, now non existent team Stal Dębica was promoted to the 3rd Division (however - just for one year). Four years later Stal merged with Wisłoka and in June of 1963 the much stronger team won games in Rzeszow's regional league, advancing six points before Czuwaj Przemysl. Then, in the play-offs, Wisłoka came out as the 3rd team and did not manage to get to the 3rd Division. Dębica’s side opponents - Victoria Jaworzno, Star Starachowice Orzel Rapid (which later became GKS Katowice) and Gornik Sosnowiec.
In the mid-60s, favorite player of Wisłoka’s supporters was the top-scorer Jerzy Maslanka. Even though he studied in Rzeszow, he always had enough time to come to Dębica and put on white-green jersey. In 1966 Wisłoka’s officials bought a veteran, but otherwise very experienced and key midfield player - Ludwik Poswiat, who, as a 17-year-old boy had won the Championships of Poland (in 1948, with Cracovia). He finished his career in 1972 and remained in Dębica, becoming a trainer of youth teams. Poswiat died in 1976.
In the season 1966-67, the team was expected to advance to the 3rd Division. Wisłoka managed to do so, but not without problems. After fall season, Wisłoka was second, after reserve team of Stal Rzeszow. In the spring of 1967, white-green, whose strength was improved by some new players, did not lose 12 consecutive games and won promotion.
[edit] Promotions to the Second Division
Five years later, in the early summer of 1972, another promotion took place - this time to the 2nd, National Division. Wisłoka finished first, five points ahead of CKS Czeladz. The seemingly impossible dream came true.
Wisłoka, sponsored by DZOS Stomil (today - Tire Company Dębica) spent seven years in the 2nd Division. White-green team placed for most time in the mid-part of the table, only once - in 1975 - finishing on 5th position. In the season 1978-79, in the first round Wisłoka was placed on a good, 8th position. Spring round, however, was a catastrophe. Dębica’s favourites lost many games and as a result Wisłoka was relegated back to 3rd Division
[edit] Relegation and lean years
After relegation, Wisłoka wanted to return to the 2nd Division as fast as possible. In the season 1979-80 it was missed narrowly - white-green finished second, just after Stal Rzeszow.
The 80s were not as good as the 70s. The team played in 3rd Division, group 8th, for most time placing in the upper half of the table. Unfortunately, however, Wisłoka never managed to fight for promotion. Apart from main team, there was also a reserve team, two junior and several youth teams. They played in regional games, also in a Ludwik Poswiat Junior Tournament, which was organized every summer since 1979.
In 1987 a big disappointment took place. Wisłoka was relegated to the 4th Division. This was a shock for both fans and officials. Some changes took place, after which white-green in June 1988 returned to the 3rd Division, finishing before both BKS Bochnia and Okocimski Brzesko.
In 1988-89 Polish Soccer Association (PZPN) made some changes. Instead of eight groups of 3rd Division, four - much stronger groups were created. Competition was tougher, but Wisłoka never had any problems with keeping itself on the safe position.
[edit] Another promotion
In 1990-91 Wisłoka again, after several years, won promotion to the Second National Division, group south, finishing ahead of Sandecja Nowy Sacz and Cracovia Krakow. The team, lead by coach Jan Kasowicz during the whole season proved to by the best, winning 14 games, drawing 7 and losing only 3 (goals 40-13).
In the 2nd Division Wisłoka was for most time placing in the middle positions of the table. The highest location (7th) occurred in the season 1993-94. In June of 1995 however, the team was relegated back to the Regional Division. Obviously, both players and officials wanted to win promotion as soon as possible, but this proved impossible. In 1995-96 Wisłoka was second, just behind Wawel Krakow, in 1996-97, Dębica’s favourites were second, finishing after Czuwaj Przemysl.
[edit] Four years in Fourth Division and 2006 promotion
The worst was yet to come. In June 2001 Wisłoka was relegated even lower - to the 4th Podkarpacie Division. In the season 2004-2005 Wisłoka was second, just behind Stal Sanok. At the end of the season 2005-2006 white-green finished on the first position in the league, three points ahead of Izolator Boguchwala, and won promotion to the upper, 3rd Division. In the season 2006-2007, Wisłoka plays in the fourth group of 3rd Division.
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Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
[edit] Cup of Poland
Wisłoka, a team which has never managed to qualify to First Division, is a perfect example of a club whose biggest successes are associated with Cup of Poland. Of many Wisłoka’s games in Cup of Poland throughout the years, two events need mentioning. First is an edition in the soccer season 1988-1989. Second is Wisłoka’s biggest-ever success so far - reaching as far as quarter-finals of the competition, which took place in the season 1992-93.
[edit] 1988-1989 season
Wisłoka was then playing in the 3rd Regional Division, group 8th (south-east). We finished on the 8th position, just behind our team the reserve team of Igloopol Dębica was placed. Garbarnia Krakow, which won the league, played additional games against Baltyk Gdynia, but Garbarnia lost and Baltyk qualified to the 2nd, National Division.
The future opponent of Wisłoka in Cup of Poland, Gornik Zabrze, was by far the best team in Poland, winning Polish Championships for four successive years (1985-86-87-88). Many excellent players represented Gornik in those years. Among them: Wandzik, Dankowski, Matysik, Iwan, Komornicki, Urban, Palasz, Cyron, Zgutczynski.
How did Wisłoka get to the game against Gornik? This is the games schedule:
July 24, 1989 Wisłoka Dębica - Glinik Gorlice 3-0
August 3, 1989 Wisłoka Dębica - Radomiak Radom 2-0
August 17, 1989 Wisłoka Dębica - Resovia 5-2 (In those years Resovia was a strong, second division team)
August 31, 1989 Wisłoka Dębica - Gornik Zabrze 0-0 (penalties 4-5)
Undoubtedly, this game was the biggest sports event in the history of Dębica. The stands were full - around 10,000 fans showed up (which made for one-fourth of the town’s population). As minutes passed by, more and more people started to chant songs and clap their hands. During final minutes of the game, the whole crowd was actively supporting Wisłoka.
What later happened to Gornik?
September 14, 1989 GKS Jastrzebie - Górnik Zabrze 1-3
Quarterfinals, November 16 and 27 Gornik Zabrze - Legia Warszawa 2-3 and in Warsaw - 0-2
[edit] 1992-93 season
That season Wisłoka played in the Eastern group of the 2nd National Division, placing the 12th position. The two teams that qualified to the 1st Division were Polonia Warszawa and Stal Stalowa Wo.
The future opponent of Wisłoka in Cup of Poland, Ruch Chorzow, was one of Polish top teams, placing the fourth in the First Division (behind Lech Poznan, Legia Warszawa and LKS Lodz. Officially, it was the reserve team that represented Ruch in this Cup season, but in reality and according to the rules the first team players were allowed to take part and so they did. Among others, the following players represented Ruch: Gilewicz, Fornalik, Srutwa, Gesior, Bednarz, Mosor, Dabrowski.
How did Wisłoka get to the game against Ruch? This is the game schedule:
August 12, 1992 Sandecja Nowy Sacz - Wisłoka Dębica 2-4
August 26, 1992 Stal II Mielec - Wisłoka Dębica 0-3
October 20, 1992 Wisłoka Dębica - Hutnik Krakow 2-1
November 10, 1992 Polger Police - Wisłoka Dębica 2-3
Quarterfinals, March 10 and 23, 1993 Wisłoka Dębica- Ruch II Chorzow 0-1 and in Chorzow 0-2
What later happened with Ruch?
Semifinals, April 7 and 24, 1993 Slask Wroclaw - Ruch II Chorzow 1-1 and in Chorzow 1-4
Final game of the Cup of Poland
June 23, 1993 GKS Katowice - Ruch II Chorzów 1-1, penalties 5-4
As was said before, quarterfinals games against Ruch were the biggest success in the history of Wisłoka’s soccer team. We all hope that these times will return and one day Wisłoka will reach the final! But first of all, current attitude of players, coach and management has to change. Right now, nobody in Wisłoka treats Cup of Poland seriously and this is a big mistake!
[edit] Wisłoka's major soccer achievements and most famous players
- Second National Division - from 1972 to 1979 and from 1991 to 1995. In 1973/74 Wisłoka finished on the 5th position - the highest in the team's history,
- quarter-finals of Cup of Poland - 1992/1993 (against Ruch II Chorzow),
- most famous players who were taught soccer in Wisłoka are
- Leszek Pisz (played in Legia Warszawa, winning Cup of Poland for four times, Championships of Poland twice, Supercup of Poland twice (1990, 1995), qualifying to the quarter-finals of the European Champions League (1994/1995) and qualifying to the semifinals of European Cup of Winners cup (1990/1991). Pisz was a key player and captain of Legia, he also played a few games in Polish National Team,
- Waldemar Piatek (plays in Lech Poznan, but now sick and had to give up his career. Piatek won the Cup and Supercup of Poland. In July 2004 called up to the Polish national football team for a 1-1 Chicago game versus USA).
[edit] Other sports
Wisłoka’s athletes excelled not only in soccer. In fact, the club’s biggest successes are associated with a completely different sport - wrestling, Greco-Roman style. Our wrestlers have won numerous medals, in all kinds of competitions. This is a short list of their main achievements:
[edit] Wrestling, greco-roman style
Olympic Games:
- gold - Kazimierz Lipien - Montreal 1976,
- silver - Jozef Lipien - Moscow 1980,
- bronze - Kazimierz Lipien - Munich 1972 and Andrzej Skrzydlewski - Montreal 1976.
World Champions (gold medals only):
- Jozef Lipien - Teheran 1973,
- Kazimierz Lipien - Teheran 1973,
- Kazimierz Lipien - Katowice 1974,
- Ryszard Swierad - Gothenborg 1981,
- Roman Wroclawski - Katowice 1982
European Champions (gold medals only):
- Jan Michalik - Katowice 1972,
- Jan Michalik - Helsinki 1973,
- Kazimierz Lipien - Ludwigsdorf 1975,
- Kazimierz Lipien - Leningrad 1976,
- Kazimierz Lipien - Oslo 1978,
- Ryszard Swierad - Goeteborg 1981
[edit] Boxing
European Championships
- silver - Roman Gotfryd - Halle 1977,
- bronze - Roman Gotfryd - Belgrade 1978.
[edit] Cycling
Individual Championships of Poland:
- gold - Andrzej Barszcz - Nysa 1991,
- bronze - Stanislaw Czaja - Radom 1977.
[edit] Karate
Championships of Poland:
- bronze - Piotr Szczerba - Szczecin 1988,
- bronze - Piotr Szczerba - Prudnik 1990,
- bronze- Janusz Szeliga - Prudnik 1990,
- bronze - Piotr Szczerba - Dębica 1991.
