Śląsk Świętochłowice (full name: Miejski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Świętochłowice (Silesia Świętochłowice City Sports Club) is one of the

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...

sports clubs from

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, locate ...

, strongly connected with the region, which is reflected in its name - Śląsk simply means

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

History

The club was founded in February 1920, during the hectic months of the post-

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

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 21 March 1920 against Zombie Football (2000–1). 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 K.S. Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinów, a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club's name comes from the nearby tannery () of the Dłużyński brothers, which was the original club sponsor. Garbarni ...

, 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 Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...

Toruń )'' , image_skyline = , image_caption = , image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg , image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg , nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town , pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...

. 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 GKS Naprzód Świętochłowice Lipiny is a sports club from Świętochłowice's district of Lipiny (Upper Silesia, Poland), founded in 1920 by Alfons Maniura, who became Naprzód first chairman. Throughout the years, the club for many times ch ...

, 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

and

Union Touring Łódź Union Touring Łódź was a Polish football club from the city of Łódź. Union Touring was created in 1932 as the result of a merger of Klub Turystow Łódź and SS Union Łódź. In late 1938 the team was promoted to the Polish football Leagu ...

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 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. Fablok's most famous soccer player is Paweł Cyganek, who played ...

, 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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. 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 The Gauliga Schlesien was the highest football league in the region of Silesia (German:''Schlesien''), which consisted of the Prussian provinces of Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the ...

, later the

Gauliga Oberschlesien A Gauliga () was the highest level of play in German football from 1933 to 1945. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Exercise. Name The German word '' ...

. Śląsk, with its name changed to TuS Schwientochlowitz, was basically the same team as in 1939, plus

Walter Brom Walter Henryk Brom (14 January 1921 – 18 June 1968) 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 (and to this day is) the youngest goalie who has ever bee ...

, a very talented goalkeeper of Ruch Chorzów. However, as time went by, more and more players were conscripted to the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

, among them Ewald Cebula, who ended up in German units in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. 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 speedway section was founded and during the years it rose as one of greatest powers in Polish speedway, with such excellent riders as

Paweł Waloszek Paweł Waloszek (28 April 1938 – 7 September 2018) was a Polish international motorcycle speedway rider who was second in 1970 Individual Speedway World Championship. Career details World Championships * Individual World Championship ** 1 ...

(Second in

1970 Individual Speedway World Championship The 1970 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 25th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider. Ivan Mauger became the first rider to win the title in three consecutive years, his five ride 15 point ...

). Currently, following the general slump in Polish sports, Śląsk's speedway section does not exist.

History

Speedway

See also