Polonia Bytom

Polonia Bytom (Polish pronunciation: [pɔˈlɔɲja ˈbɨtɔm]) is a Polish football club founded on 4 January 1920 in the Upper Silesian city of Bytom, during the hectic months of the Silesian Uprisings. In late 1922, however, as a result of the Upper Silesia plebiscite, Bytom became part of Germany and the club ceased to exist.

For the ice hockey section of the club, see TMH Polonia Bytom.
Polonia Bytom
Full nameKlub Sportowy Polonia Bytom Spółka Akcyjna
Nickname(s)"Blue & Reds", "Queen of Silesia"
Founded4 January 1920
GroundStadion Edwarda Szymkowiaka
Capacity5,500[1]
ManagerKamil Rakoczy
LeagueIII liga
2018–19IV liga, 1st (promotion)

In May 1945, numerous players and officials of another Polish club, Pogoń Lwów, arrived in Bytom and decided to revive Polonia. On 17 May 1945, the team played its first game in over two decades, defeating Warta Poznań 3–2.

Polonia is considered the continuation of Pogoń Lwów; its logo is very similar to the logo of Lwów's team as well as their colours, red-blue.

Polish international player and goalkeeper Edward Szymkowiak played for the club. The club stadium is named after him, and has a capacity of 5,500 spectators.

Polonia has won the Polish championship twice, in 1954 and 1962. In 1952, 1958, 1959 and 1961 Bytom was the vice-champion of Poland. In June 2007 Polonia Bytom, after many years, returned to the Polish Ekstraklasa. However, in 2011, the club was relegated to the I liga after finishing bottom of the table with just six wins all season.[2]

Honours

Domestic

Continental

Youth Teams

Supporters

Polonia Bytom supporters were the first organised fan-club in Poland. They have introduced scarfs, flags and organised chants. Many of the other supporters groups were travelling to Bytom only to watch how Polonia's fans are cheering their club and behaving on the stadium.

The fans have friendships with fans of Arka Gdynia which dates back to 1974, one of the longest friendships in supporter history which has survived to date;[3] and with fans of Odra Opole, since 1987.

Polonia biggest rivals are local teams Górnik Zabrze, Ruch Radzionków, Ruch Chorzów (The Oldest Silesian Derby) and Szombierki Bytom (Derby of Bytom). The other groups which are not very welcome in Bytom are fans from Zaglebie Sosnowiec, Legia Warszawa and Lechia Gdańsk.

Polonia Bytom firm is commonly known as Desperados.

League participations[4]

Ekstraklasa: 1948–1949 (2 seasons), 1951–1955 (5 seasons), 1957–1976 (20 seasons), 1977–1980, 1986–1987, 2007–2011

First League: 1950, 1956, 1976–1977, 1980–1986, 1987–2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2013

Second League: 2001–2005, 2013–2014, 2015–

Third League: 2014–2015

Current squad
As of 13 April 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  POL Dawid Gargasz
3 DF  POL Michał Bedronka
7 MF  POL Tomasz Pośpiech
9 MF  POL Łukasz Matusiak
10 MF  POL Dawid Krzemień
11 FW  POL Łukasz Krakowczyk (on loan from Piast Gliwice)
12 GK  POL Maciej Wierzbicki
13 MF  POL Wojciech Mróz
14 FW  POL Dawid Rudnik (on loan from Polonia Gościęcin)
15 MF  POL Jakub Czajkowski
16 MF  POL Patryk Stefański
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  POL Filip Zagiel
18 FW  POL Adam Zak
19 MF  POL Jakub Belica
21 MF  POL Krzysztof Hałgas
22 MF  POL Mariusz Fornalczyk
23 MF  POL Marcin Lachowski
24 MF  POL Dominik Budzik
25 MF  POL Dominik Konieczny
27 DF  POL Dawid Kozicki
29 MF  POL Przemysław Mizgała
30 DF  POL Norbert Radkiewicz

Polonia in Europe
Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate/Position
1964–65 Intertoto Cup Group C3 Lens 4-0 1-3 Winner/1st
Schalke 04 6-0 0-2
Degerfors IF 6-0 1-1
1R Bye
Quarter final Karl-Marx-Stadt FC 0-2 4-1 4-3
Semi-final RFC Liège 0-1 3-1 3-2
Final Lokomotive Leipzig 0-3 5-1 5-4
1958/59 European Cup Q MTK Budapest 0–3 0–3 0-6
1962/63 European Cup Q Panathinaikos FC 2–1 4–1 6-2
1R Galatasaray S.K. 1–4 1–0 2-4

References
  1. Bytom, Polonia. "Polonia Bytom. Stadion im. Edwarda Szymkowiaka". www.poloniabytom.com.pl.
  2. http://fussball.wettpoint.com/en/archives/table/ekstraklasa_2010_poland.html "Fussball – League Table Ekstraklasa Season 2010/11 Poland" Retrieved 15 August 2011
  3. "Polonia Bytom".
  4. pl:Polonia Bytom (piłka nożna)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.