Slask Swietochlowice
Encyclopedia
Śląsk Świętochłowice is one of the Polish
sports clubs from Upper Silesia
, strongly connected with the region, which is reflected in its name - Śląsk simply means Silesia
.
period, when the Allied Powers were hesitating about the future fate of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. Śląsk's first, historic game occurred on March 21, 1920 against Polonia Bytom
(2-1).
In 1921, when it turned out that Świętochłowice and surrounding areas would belong to Poland, Śląsk's soccer team was strengthened by several players of a German-minority team SV 1913. This was a huge boost, and after a few years, in late 1927, Świętochłowice's side was promoted to Polish Soccer League. To get there, Slask won qualifiers against the teams of Garbarnia Kraków
, LTSG Łódź and 6 Pulk Lotnikow Lwów.
The 1928 season was a failure. Out of 15 teams, Slask was placed on 14th position, with only 12 points (5 victories, 2 ties, goals 29-86). Relegation meant playing in Silesian A-Class, the strongest regional league in Poland. Relegation was not regarded by club's officials as a tragedy. Śląsk was a poor team, and playing in the National League was very expensive. Club simply had no money to travel to Lwów, Poznań
or Toruń
.
After a few years, in mid-1934, Slask won the Silesian League games. Then, in regional qualifiers it beat Unia Sosnowiec and Grzegorzecki Kraków. Final stage was a central tournament. There, after beating Śmigły Wilno 5-1 and 2-0 as well as Naprzód Lipiny
0-0 and 2-1, Śląsk was promoted to the Polish Soccer League.
The 1935 season was a good one. Świętochłowice's side was placed on 5th position (among 11 teams), with 22 points and goals difference 34-40. Śląsk was the team of its own turf, at home winning for 8 times and losing twice. Next, 1936 season was much worse. Śląsk was placed on 9th (last but one) position which meant relegation (only 11 points, goals 21-40). Świętochłowice's favorites financial situation was much better than in 1928. Club was sponsored by "Florian" steelworks, its best players were Hubert Gad
and Ewald Cebula
, who also represented Poland.
In mid-1938 Śląsk won the Silesian League as well as regional qualifiers (against Legia Poznań
and Gryf Toruń). However, in a national competition, the team was 3rd, after Garbarnia Kraków
and Union Touring Łódź and ahead of Policyjny KS Luck.
Next year was again marked by high hopes. Świętochłowice's favorites, looking stronger than ever before, won Silesian League (mid-1939), then routed the teams of Fablok Chrzanów
4-0 and 1-1 and Unia Sosnowiec 4-0 and 2-0, to qualify to the national qualifying tournament. Unfortunately, this competition was not finished due to Second World War. In August 1939 Śląsk managed to play only two games - at home with Śmigły Wilno (2-1) and away with Junak Drohobycz
(0-0).
During the war, the German occupiers allowed those Silesians who signed the Volksliste
to participate in the games of the Gauliga Schlesien
, later the Gauliga Oberschlesien. Śląsk, with its name changed to TuS Schwientochlowitz, was basically the same team as in 1939, plus Walter Brom
, a very talented goalkeeper of Ruch Chorzów
. However, as time went by, more and more players were conscripted to the Wehrmacht
, among them Ewald Cebula, who ended up in German units in Italy
.
After the war, in spite of the dedication of its activists, Śląsk's soccer team never managed to return to the Polish Soccer League. Currently it plays in the 4th, regional Division of Upper Silesia.
section was founded and during the years it rose as one of greatest powers in Polish speedway
, with such excellent riders as Paweł Waloszek (Second in 1970 Individual Speedway World Championship
). Currently, following the general slump in Polish sports, Śląsk's speedway section does not exist.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
sports clubs from Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, strongly connected with the region, which is reflected in its name - Śląsk simply means Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
.
History
The club was founded in February 1920, during the hectic months of the post-World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
period, when the Allied Powers were hesitating about the future fate of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. Śląsk's first, historic game occurred on March 21, 1920 against Polonia Bytom
Polonia Bytom
Polonia Bytom 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...
(2-1).
In 1921, when it turned out that Świętochłowice and surrounding areas would belong to Poland, Śląsk's soccer team was strengthened by several players of a German-minority team SV 1913. This was a huge boost, and after a few years, in late 1927, Świętochłowice's side was promoted to Polish Soccer League. To get there, Slask won qualifiers against the teams of Garbarnia Kraków
Garbarnia Kraków
RKS Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinow - a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club’s unusual name comes from the nearby tannery of the Dluzynski brothers, which was the original club sponsor...
, LTSG Łódź and 6 Pulk Lotnikow Lwów.
The 1928 season was a failure. Out of 15 teams, Slask was placed on 14th position, with only 12 points (5 victories, 2 ties, goals 29-86). Relegation meant playing in Silesian A-Class, the strongest regional league in Poland. Relegation was not regarded by club's officials as a tragedy. Śląsk was a poor team, and playing in the National League was very expensive. Club simply had no money to travel to Lwów, Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
or Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
.
After a few years, in mid-1934, Slask won the Silesian League games. Then, in regional qualifiers it beat Unia Sosnowiec and Grzegorzecki Kraków. Final stage was a central tournament. There, after beating Śmigły Wilno 5-1 and 2-0 as well as Naprzód Lipiny
Naprzód Lipiny
GKS Naprzód Świętochłowice Lipiny - a sports club from Swietochlowice’s district of Lipiny , founded in 1920 by Alfons Maniura, who became Naprzód first chairman. 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 -...
0-0 and 2-1, Śląsk was promoted to the Polish Soccer League.
The 1935 season was a good one. Świętochłowice's side was placed on 5th position (among 11 teams), with 22 points and goals difference 34-40. Śląsk was the team of its own turf, at home winning for 8 times and losing twice. Next, 1936 season was much worse. Śląsk was placed on 9th (last but one) position which meant relegation (only 11 points, goals 21-40). Świętochłowice's favorites financial situation was much better than in 1928. Club was sponsored by "Florian" steelworks, its best players were Hubert Gad
Hubert Gad
Hubert Gad, also known as Hubert God was a Polish soccer player, a very skilled and aggressive forward, who for a while was the top scorer of Poland....
and Ewald Cebula
Ewald Cebula
Edward Cebula was a Polish football player and defender...
, who also represented Poland.
In mid-1938 Śląsk won the Silesian League as well as regional qualifiers (against Legia Poznań
Legia Poznan
Legia Poznań is a defunct Polish football club from Poznań. Founded in 1922, Legia was the second strongest team in the city of Poznań, behind Warta Poznań...
and Gryf Toruń). However, in a national competition, the team was 3rd, after Garbarnia Kraków
Garbarnia Kraków
RKS Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinow - a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club’s unusual name comes from the nearby tannery of the Dluzynski brothers, which was the original club sponsor...
and Union Touring Łódź and ahead of Policyjny KS Luck.
Next year was again marked by high hopes. Świętochłowice's favorites, looking stronger than ever before, won Silesian League (mid-1939), then routed the teams of Fablok Chrzanów
Fablok Chrzanów
Fablok Chrzanów is a Polish sports club, founded in 1926 in Chrzanów. Its name reflects the name of club’s sponsor - Fablok, the biggest and most important company of the town....
4-0 and 1-1 and Unia Sosnowiec 4-0 and 2-0, to qualify to the national qualifying tournament. Unfortunately, this competition was not finished due to Second World War. In August 1939 Śląsk managed to play only two games - at home with Śmigły Wilno (2-1) and away with Junak Drohobycz
Junak Drohobycz
Junak Drohobycz was a Polish soccer team, located in Drohobycz , on the historic territory of Kresy Wschodnie . It was disbanded by the Soviet occupying authorities in the fall of 1939, following Soviet attack on Eastern Poland...
(0-0).
During the war, the German occupiers allowed those Silesians who signed the Volksliste
Volksliste
The Deutsche Volksliste was a Nazi institution whose purpose was the classification of inhabitants of German occupied territories into categories of desirability according to criteria systematized by Heinrich Himmler. The institution was first established in occupied western Poland...
to participate in the games of the Gauliga Schlesien
Gauliga Schlesien
The Gauliga Schlesien was the highest football league in the region of Silesia , which consisted of the Prussian provinces of Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia from 1933 to 1945...
, later the Gauliga Oberschlesien. Śląsk, with its name changed to TuS Schwientochlowitz, was basically the same team as in 1939, plus Walter Brom
Walter Brom
Walter Henryk Brom was a Polish soccer goalkeeper. Brom, who played for Ruch Chorzów, was a reserve player of Polish team in FIFA World Cup 1938. He was the youngest goalie who has ever been listed in any World Cup finals...
, a very talented goalkeeper of Ruch Chorzów
Ruch Chorzów
Ruch Chorzów is a Polish association football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland: 14 time national champion, and 3 time winner of the Polish Cup. Currently the team plays in the top Polish league, the Ekstraklasa. Their stadium capacity...
. However, as time went by, more and more players were conscripted to the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, among them Ewald Cebula, who ended up in German units in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
After the war, in spite of the dedication of its activists, Śląsk's soccer team never managed to return to the Polish Soccer League. Currently it plays in the 4th, regional Division of Upper Silesia.
Speedway
But Śląsk's history is not only about soccer. In 1951 a motorcycle speedwayMotorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
section was founded and during the years it rose as one of greatest powers in Polish speedway
Speedway in Poland
Speedway is one of the most popular sports in Poland. The Polish Extraleague has the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland...
, with such excellent riders as Paweł Waloszek (Second in 1970 Individual Speedway World Championship
1970 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1970 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 6, 1970 Wrocław, Olympic Stadium...
). Currently, following the general slump in Polish sports, Śląsk's speedway section does not exist.