Junak Drohobycz
Encyclopedia
Junak Drohobycz was a Polish
soccer team, located in Drohobycz (now Drohobych
, Ukraine), on the historic territory of Kresy Wschodnie (Polish Eastern Borderlands). It was disbanded by the Soviet
occupying authorities in the fall of 1939, following Soviet attack on Eastern Poland. In early months of the war, members of Junak created the White Couriers
, a boyscouting organization, which smuggled hundreds of persons from the area of Lwow to Hungary
, across the Soviet-Hungarian border in the Carpathians.
Drohobycz, as well as adjacent town of Borysław, were interwar centers of Polish oil mining. With the help of numerous factories and local government of both towns, Junak developed very fast. Numerous players were bought, mostly from renowned teams of Cracovia and Wisła Kraków, and in the spring of 1939 the team won local games of the Lwów region, beating, among others, Czarni Lwów
and Polonia Przemyśl
. Junak's matches were very popular, with up to 5000 fans watching them. Supporters would come not only from Drohobycz, but also from Boryslaw and Schodnica (Skhidnytsia now).
Before reaching play-offs for Polish Soccer League, Junak had to overcame more teams. In June and July 1939, the Drohobycz's side beat Unia Lublin (6-0 and 3-4), Policyjny KS Luck (7-0 and 3-2) and Strzelec-Gorka Stanisławów (6-1 and 0-4). Junak must have been a good team, which was proved in friendly games in the spring and early summer of 1939. It tied 2-2 with Cracovia, 3-3 with Wisła Kraków, also beat 2-1 the amateur champion of Hungary
.
1939 - PLAY-OFFS FOR POLISH SOCCER LEAGUE
On August 13, 1939, Junak played the first game of the play-offs. In Poznań
, against Legia, the score was good (1-1). Then, on August 20, at home, in a disappointing game versus Śląsk Świętochłowice, neither side scored. The next home game, planned on September 10, against Śmigły Wilno, never took place, because of German
and Soviet invasions on Poland.
It is difficult to speculate if Junak would reach the League (out of participating 4 teams, 3 were going to be promoted). Back in 1939, all fans in Drohobycz were sure of it. We know that team's officials had far-reaching plans, hoping to win the Championship of Poland as early as 1940. Rumor has it that Junak was thinking about buying Ernest Willimowski - the forward player of both Ruch Chorzów
and Polish national team, by far the best player in interwar Poland. Also, at the beginning of 1939, Junak bought another star of Polish soccer, Bolesław Habowski from Wisła Kraków.
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...
soccer team, located in Drohobycz (now Drohobych
Drohobych
Drohobych is a city located at the confluence of the Tysmenytsia River and Seret, a tributary of the former, in the Lviv Oblast , in western Ukraine...
, Ukraine), on the historic territory of Kresy Wschodnie (Polish Eastern Borderlands). It was disbanded by the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
occupying authorities in the fall of 1939, following Soviet attack on Eastern Poland. In early months of the war, members of Junak created the White Couriers
White Couriers
White Couriers was a group of around 20-30 Polish boyscouts and former soldiers of the Polish Army, most of whom had been associated with the interbellum sports club Junak Drohobycz. It existed between October 1939 and July 1940, when it was broken by the Soviet NKVD...
, a boyscouting organization, which smuggled hundreds of persons from the area of Lwow to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, across the Soviet-Hungarian border in the Carpathians.
History
In 1922, a sports club Czarni was founded in Drohobycz. In 1930 it changed name to Strzelec, and later, in 1931 - to Junak. For the first few years, the new team did not achieve anything significant in Polish soccer, lagging far behind top teams from Lwów. Crucial was the year 1937 - in March, Captain Mieczyslaw Mlotek from Drohobycz's Polish Army garrison was elected president of the club. He was a great fan of soccer. Using his influences, Mlotek organized Junak's council, which included the most influential citizens of the town (among them - the mayor of Drohobycz).Drohobycz, as well as adjacent town of Borysław, were interwar centers of Polish oil mining. With the help of numerous factories and local government of both towns, Junak developed very fast. Numerous players were bought, mostly from renowned teams of Cracovia and Wisła Kraków, and in the spring of 1939 the team won local games of the Lwów region, beating, among others, Czarni Lwów
Czarni Lwów
Czarni Lwów was one of the first Polish professional sports clubs with the well developed football section as well as hockey among the several other sports. The football club was started in the late 19th century in Lwów as a school football section Sława Lwów...
and Polonia Przemyśl
Polonia Przemysl
Polonia Przemyśl is a Polish sports club, located in the southeastern city of Przemyśl. Founded in 1909, it is one of the oldest sports associations in Poland.- History :...
. Junak's matches were very popular, with up to 5000 fans watching them. Supporters would come not only from Drohobycz, but also from Boryslaw and Schodnica (Skhidnytsia now).
Before reaching play-offs for Polish Soccer League, Junak had to overcame more teams. In June and July 1939, the Drohobycz's side beat Unia Lublin (6-0 and 3-4), Policyjny KS Luck (7-0 and 3-2) and Strzelec-Gorka Stanisławów (6-1 and 0-4). Junak must have been a good team, which was proved in friendly games in the spring and early summer of 1939. It tied 2-2 with Cracovia, 3-3 with Wisła Kraków, also beat 2-1 the amateur champion of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
1939 - PLAY-OFFS FOR POLISH SOCCER LEAGUE
On August 13, 1939, Junak played the first game of the play-offs. In 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...
, against Legia, the score was good (1-1). Then, on August 20, at home, in a disappointing game versus Śląsk Świętochłowice, neither side scored. The next home game, planned on September 10, against Śmigły Wilno, never took place, because of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Soviet invasions on Poland.
It is difficult to speculate if Junak would reach the League (out of participating 4 teams, 3 were going to be promoted). Back in 1939, all fans in Drohobycz were sure of it. We know that team's officials had far-reaching plans, hoping to win the Championship of Poland as early as 1940. Rumor has it that Junak was thinking about buying Ernest Willimowski - the forward player of both 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...
and Polish national team, by far the best player in interwar Poland. Also, at the beginning of 1939, Junak bought another star of Polish soccer, Bolesław Habowski from Wisła Kraków.