Górnik Wałbrzych (football)
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| Full name | Klub Piłkarski Górnik Wałbrzych |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Legion Sudety |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Ground | 1000-year Anniversary Stadium, Wałbrzych |
| Chairman | Tomasz Jakacki |
| Manager | Jerzy Cyrak |
| League | II liga |
Górnik Wałbrzych is a Polish men's basketball and football team, based in Wałbrzych, southwestern Poland currently playing in the third tier
History
Gornik Walbrzych was formed on March 22, 1946 by a group of sports enthusiasts from Lower Silesian Coal Mining Association. On March 31, 1946, the first meeting of the board took place, during which Major Boleslaw Rudzinski was elected the chairman of Gornik. In August 1946, Kazimierz Nabielec, who used to play for Pogon Lwow, formed Autonomous Football Federation at Walbrzych (former German Waldenburg). In 1947, first local football championship took place, with Gornik-Zamek, as the team was then called, finishing in the last position.
In 1948, Gornik-Zamek merged with the team of Huta Karol, and in 1949, with Chrobry, Julia and Mieszko. As a result, by 1950, a powerful football team was created, with financial support of most local coal mines. In 1950, Gornik already played in the third level of Polish football system. Even though it failed to win promotion to the second league, Polish Football Association (PZPN) decided to expand the second division to four groups, with ten teams in each. As a result of this, Gornik was attached to the third group of the second division. The team from Walbrzych won its group in the 1951 season, finishing before Gornik Zabrze, and winning a spot in the Ekstraklasa playoffs. In the playoffs,which featured four teams (Lechia Gdansk, Wawel Krakow, Gwardia Warszawa), Gornik won only one game, losing five.
In 1953, the PZPN decided to reduce the number of teams in the second division, from 40 to 14. Gornik finished the season in the comfortable 6th position, and in 1954, it also was the 6th team. In 1958, Gornik was relegated from the second division, to remain there until 1963. In 1961, Gornik’s U-19 team won silver in Polish championship.
In 1962, the PZPN decided to change the whole system of Polish football championship, introducing the autumn - spring games. As a result, additional playoffs were necessary for Gornik to remain in the second division. The team from Walbrzych managed to beat MGKS Mikulczyce (later Sparta Zabrze), after an extra, third game, which took place in Opole.
Gornik played in the second division until 1970. Its top player was Henryk Kempny, formerly of Legia Warszawa. In 1967, Gornik finished third, behind Gwardia Warszawa and Odra Opole. In 1968 in Mielec, Gornik won gold in the U-19 Polish Championship. In 1969, the team again finished third in the Second Division, behind Gwardia Warszawa and Cracovia, but in 1970 it was relegated to the Third Division. Gornik remained there for a year, and in 1971/72, it was again close to promotion to the Ekstraklasa. In 1973, the U-19 team, with Wlodzimierz Ciolek and Henryk Janikowski, once again won Polish Championship, but in the same year, Gornik was again relegated to the third level.
Under new manager Stanislaw Swierk, and with several young talents, Gornik won the third level games, and the playoffs to the second division, beating in the final game Gornik Knurow (Walbrzych, July 16, 1976).
In the 1977/78 season, Gornik was very close to the promotion to the Ekstraklasa, but failed and finished the games behind GKS Katowice. As a result, several top players left Walbrzych: Wlodzimierz Ciolek went to Stal Mielec, while Marek Pieta went to Widzew Lodz. Stanislaw Swierk was replaced by the new manager, Horst Panic.
In the 1982/83 season of the second division, Gornik was by far the best team, winning the promotion four games before the end of the season. With Wlodzimierz Ciolek back from Mielec, Gornik was a sensation in the autumn of 1983, finishing the round in the first position. In the spring of 1984, however, Gornik lost several important games, and finished the season in the sixth spot. In 1984/85 Gornik was eight, and in 1985/86, sixth. Its top players at that time were Wlodzimierz Ciolek, Leszek Kosowski and Ryszard Spaczynski. In 1986/87, Gornik, without Ciolek, who had been transferred to Switzerland, finished in the 10th spot.
After the 1987/88 season, to avoid relegation Gornik was in the playoffs, managing to beat Zaglebie Lubin. The 1988/89 season was the last one so far for Gornik Walbrzych in the Ekstraklasa. Under managers Henryk Kempny and Ryszard Mordak, Gornik was relegated. Atogether, the team from Walbrzych played 6 seasons in Polish top league, with goal difference 194-246. Gornik won 53 games, tied 56 and lost 73.
The end of Communist system in Poland meant that Gornik lost financial support of local coal mines. A difficult financial situation of sports clubs in Wałbrzych meant that in the early 90's Zaglebie Walbrzych merged with its fierce rivals Górnik Wałbrzych much to the shock of both sets of fans after over 40 years of rivalry. The new merged club then became "KP Wałbrzych", then "KP Górnik/Zagłębie Wałbrzych". Matches were played at Zagłębie's stadium but eventually the Zagłębie part was dropped from the name and the rival club de facto ceased to exist, leaving only Górnik.
Honours
- 6th place in Ekstraklasa - 1983/84, 1985/86
- Polish Cup Semi-Finals - (3x) - 1954/55, 1956/57, 1987/88
- U-19 Polish National Champions - (2x) - 1968, 1973
- U-19 Polish National Runners-up - 1961
Current squad
- As of 1 April 2015.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Supporters and Rivalries
Górnik have a large following considering their relative lack of success, and they call themselves the Sudeten Legion (Legion Sudety). The fans have a long-standing friendship with Polonia Świdnica, and maintain friendly relations with fans of Arka Gdynia, Gwardia Koszalin, Zawisza Bydgoszcz and GKS Tychy.
Their historical rival has always been local neighbour Zagłębie Wałbrzych, with matches between the two being one of the most fiercely contested derbies. However after the surprising merger of the two clubs and Zagłębie's disappearance, the current biggest rival by far is now Śląsk Wrocław.
References
- ↑ "Górnik Wałbrzych current squad". Górnik-Wałbrzych.pl. 2015-02-12.
External links
- http://gornik-walbrzych.pl/kadra-seniorzy/ - Official Website
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