Polonia Bytom
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| Full name | Klub Sportowy Polonia Bytom Spółka Akcyjna | ||
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| Nickname(s) | "Blue & Reds", "Queen of Silesia" | ||
| Founded | 4 January 1920 | ||
| Ground | Stadion Edwarda Szymkowiaka | ||
| Capacity | 5,500[1] | ||
| Chairman | Radosław Nowakowski | ||
| Manager | Ireneusz Kościelniak | ||
| League | II liga | ||
| 2015–16 | 11th | ||
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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.
In May 1945, numerous players and officials of one of the most famous Polish clubs, 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 in fact very similar to the logo of Lwów's most famous Polish team as well as their colours, red-blue.
Polonia Bytom's most famous player is goalkeeper Edward Szymkowiak. Its 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
- Ekstraklasa
- Winners (2): 1954, 1962
- Runner-up (4): 1952, 1958, 1959, 1961
- Polish Cup
- Runner-up (3): 1964, 1973, 1977
Continental
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Winners (1): 1965
- Runner-up (1): 1964
- International Soccer League (1960–1965)
- Winners (1): 1965
Youth Teams
- Polish U-19 Champion: 1963, 1970, 1978
- Polish U-19 Runner Up: 1956
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.
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 Gdansk.
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 17 July 2016.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Polonia in Europe
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958/59 | European Cup | Q | 
|
MTK | 0–3, 0–3 |
| 1962/63 | European Cup | Q | 
|
Panathinaikos FC | 2–1, 4–1 |
| 1R | 
|
Galatasaray S.K. | 1–4, 1–0 |
- Intertoto Cup 1964-65 Winner
References
- ^ Polonia Bytom. Stadion im. Edwarda Szymkowiaka
- ^ http://fussball.wettpoint.com/en/archives/table/ekstraklasa_2010_poland.html "Fussball – League Table Ekstraklasa Season 2010/11 Poland" Retrieved 15 August 2011
- ^ http://www.arkowcy.pl/artykul/1098/polonia-bytom.html
- ^ pl:Polonia Bytom (piłka nożna)
