Korona Kielce

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Korona Kielce
Full name Kolporter Korona Kielce
Nickname(s) Scyzory (Buck-Knives) Złocisto-Krwiści (Golden-Bloody)
Founded 10 July 1973
Ground Stadion Miejski Kielce
Kielce
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
Poland
European Union
(Capacity 15 500)
Chairman Flag of Poland Adam Żak
Manager Flag of Poland Jacek Zieliński
Flag of Poland Paweł Janas
League Orange Ekstraklasa
2006/2007 Orange Ekstraklasa, 7th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Home colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Away colours

Kolporter Korona Kielce, pron. IPA[kɔˈrɔna ˈkʲɛltsɛ], (Kolporter - name of the sponsor, Korona - Crown - symbol of club and city Kielce, Kielce - name of city where club is based) is a Polish football club, and the only representative of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship playing in the highest class - premier league - Orange Ekstraklasa.

In the first three decades of its existence, the club could not boast the greatest sports achievements. However, since Krzysztof Klicki (one of the richest people in Poland), became owner of Korona in 2002, the club has been one of the best run and most financially successful in Poland. During the last four seasons, the club has been promoted from the third league (Korona reserves play there presently) to the Orange Ekstraklasa (premier league).

Since 2006, when the club moved to the most modern stadium in Poland, it often has among the best attendance statistics in the Polish league. The crown in the club's coat of arms refers to the crown in Kielce's coat of arms.


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[edit] Details

Korona is regarded by many Polish footballers as an ideal place for deployment of their talent. In the first season of playing in the Orange Ekstraklasa, Korona striker Grzegorz Piechna became the most potent attacker in the Polish league. He was also picked for the Polish international team and scored a goal in his debut match. Grzegorz Piechna was discovered by scouts of Korona playing for 3rd league side Heko Czermno.

During the first two years of playing in the highest division, four more Korona Kielce players have appeared for the Polish national team. One of them is Paweł Golański, an attacking right defender, who made his debut for the national team under Leo Beenhakker. He played in the Euro 2008 qualifier between Poland and Portugal (2:1) and was one of the best players on the pitch. Korona Kielce signed him from the 2nd league side Łódzki Klub Sportowy.

Korona plays an offensive style of football, and therefore are regarded by some experts as the most entertaining team playing in the premier league Orange Ekstraklasa. As a result, games involving Korona Kielce are some of the most popular on Polish television, increasing the clubs' finances.

Korona puts much emphasis on extending its youth work and scouting young players. In this field also, the club deserves praise for developing youth football in Poland and contributing players to the country's national youth teams. From the 2006/2007 season, recruitment has begun for youth women's section.

[edit] Stadium

See also: Kielce City Stadium
Stadium of Korona Kielce
Stadium of Korona Kielce

In response to Korona's successes and the club owner, Krzysztof Klicki's, affirmation that the club would play in the premier league and battle for European cups, Kielce municipal authorities approved the construction of a new stadium suggested by Korona Kielce. Unfortunately, the stadium turned out much too small. And so, the club played its first round in the highest division at its old stadium (currently used by reserves and youth teams) to permit further work on the new facility.

Only eighteen months after the start of the building project, the keys of the new stadium were officially handed to the club. The first premier league match was played on April 1, 2006 against Zagłębie Lubin.

The Korona stadium, although it stands on the same site as an earlier stadium, is an entirely new facility, built according to UEFA recommendations and modern design ideas. In this way it differs from most other football stadiums in Poland which were built during the communist era or earlier and only slightly modernized to just meet basic UEFA standards.

Kielce stadium can seat 15,550 fans, however, due to Polish regulations, which require a buffer zone between local fans and the visitors section, league matches can only accommodate 13,823 Korona fans and 777 visiting fans. However, on one occasion the stadium was full to capacity during a league match. This occurred during the 2006/2007 season when fans of visiting club Legia Warszawa were prohibited from entering due to the vast number of their 'red brigade' supporters who made the trip down to watch their club in Kielce.

Pitch dimensions are 105 x 68 m, and the entire surface is heated. Automatic sprinklers water the pitch in between match days. Kielce stadium has a complete system of monitoring, which could serve as a model for other Polish stadiums. Stadium of Korona is also, one of the stadiums considered by the Polish Football Association for international games.

[edit] Supporters

We are the Buck-Knives
We are the Buck-Knives

Supporters of Korona are some of the most enthusiastic in the Orange Ekstraklasa and have received many awards for their artistic match 'frames'. In the spring round of 2006/2007, Korona Kielce fans were awarded 5 times in 8 matches for their superb 'frames'.

Korona supporters' tireless cheering for their team often helps their team to victories. The most faithful fans are seated in the "Młyn" - "the Mill" - which contains 500 - 1,800 people.

On June 14, 2006, the Stowarzyszenie Kibiców Korony Kielce "Złocisto-Krwiści" (Korona Kielce Supporters Association "Golden-Bloody") was officially registered at a Kielce court. Official appointing of Korona Kielce fans had become a fact. This association brings together representatives of various Korona supporters groups.

The association is a partner for the Club and many institutions, which it wants to cooperate with. The fans are invaluable in the creation of memorable football events, and the association has an important role in increasing fan input on football life in Korona. The most important role of the association however is to improve the quality of support. Thanks to the association clubs gadgets are more available.

The association also organizes special trains and coaches for fans for away matches. It also organizes events promoting the Club such as "Golden-bloody stadium in Kielce", "Small toy - children's benefit" (fans donated toys to an orphanage), "Action Banner" (a lot of flags and banners were sewed). In short, the association has introduced a new supporting style at Korona matches which will attract even more fans to the stadium on Ściegiennego street.

Korona Kielce fans have a friendship with fans of: Cracovia Kraków, Polonia Warszawa, Stal Mielec, Sandecja Nowy Sącz

After a match...
After a match...

[edit] Current players 2007/08

See also: Other Teams of Korona Kielce
First squad in the spring round of season 2007/8
No. Position Player
1 Flag of Poland GK Maciej Mielcarz
2 Flag of Poland DF Piotr Celeban
3 Flag of Poland MF Michał Trzeciakiewicz
4 Flag of Brazil DF Hernâni
6 Flag of Poland MF Paweł Sasin
8 Flag of Lithuania DF Andrius Skerla
9 Flag of Poland MF Marcin Kaczmarek
10 Flag of Poland MF Mariusz Zganiacz
11 Flag of Poland FW Marcin Robak
15 Flag of Poland MF Grzegorz Bonin
16 Flag of Brazil FW Andradina
18 Flag of Poland FW Krzysztof Gajtkowski
No. Position Player
19 Flag of Poland DF Robert Bednarek
20 Flag of Poland DF Marcin Drzymont
21 Flag of Poland MF Tomasz Nowak
23 Flag of Poland DF Marcin Kuś
26 Flag of Poland GK Radosław Cierzniak
27 Flag of Poland FW Jacek Kiełb
28 Flag of Poland MF Cezary Wilk
29 Flag of Poland MF Paweł Sobolewski
30 Flag of Poland GK Wojciech Kowalewski
Flag of Poland DF Adam Mójta
Flag of Poland MF Kamil Radulj
Flag of Poland FW Marek Fundakowski

[edit] History

The club was founded in 1973 after the union of two clubs from Kielce - Iskra and SHL. The new club got its first promotion to the Polish 2nd league in 1975. Unfortunately, the team did not play very well and was soon relegated. The next promotion was in 1982. Korona played in the 2nd league until 1990 when it was once again relegated. 1996 brought several changes. Nida Gips from Gacki became the new sponsor and the club's name changed to Miejski Klub Sportowy Sekcja Futbolowa Korona. During the 1998/1999 season Korona again played in the 2nd league but dropped down at the end of the season. In 2000 Korona merged with another club from Kielce - Błękitni Kielce and was renamed to Kielecki Klub Piłkarski Korona.

In 2002 the golden era in Korona had begun. Kolporter became the new sponsor, Krzysztof Klicki the new chairman, and the club's name changed to Kielecki Klub Piłkarski Kolporter Korona. In 2003 the team was again renamed, this time to Sportowa Spólka Akcyjna Kolporter Korona. The goal was simple - to be the best Polish football team. The dream started to become reality in 2005 when Korona won the 2nd league and for the first time in the club's history was promoted to the Polish premier league.

The first match in the premier league (currently named the Orange Ekstraklasa) was against Cracovia Krakow and the final score was 0-0. Korona ended the 2005/06 season fifth in the league table. Prior to the 2006/2007 season, at a meeting with supporters, the chairman announced that club would revert back to its historical coat of arms. Korona's second season in the Ekstraklasa started off strongly with an away win against Arka Gdynia (3-0). September 20, 2006 was a significant one in Korona's history. After an away victory against Odra Wodzisław Śląski, the club climbed to the top of the league table for the first time in its history.

[edit] Foreign players

[edit] Biggest Achievements

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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