Pogon Lwów
Encyclopedia
LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish
professional sports club which was located in Lwów (now Lviv
in the Ukraine
), and existed from 1904 until the outbreak of World War II
in 1939. It was the second oldest Polish football club behind other teams from Lwów - Czarni
and Lechia
. With numerous departments, among them football, ice hockey
and track and field
, Pogoń was a major force of Polish sports in the interbellum period; its football team was never relegated from the elite Polish Football League. The club ceased to exist in September 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland. On July 2, 1939, Pogoń played last pre-war official home game, drawing 1-1 with AKS Chorzów
. The last pre-war game of the Pogoń's football team took place in Warsaw
on August 20, 1939. Lwów's side lost 1-2 to Polonia Warszawa
, scorer of the last goal was the 20-year old forward Piotr Dreher. The club was recreated in 2009.
) Fourth High School was founded by a group of students, inspired by their gymnastics teacher, doctor Eugeniusz Piasecki
. The organisation was based on several minor students teams, which had existed in the city since 1900, and which had played several football games with opponents from other high schools. The team of Fourth High School went together with players of Czarni Lwów
in May 1906 to Kraków
, where they tied with local students 1:1. The visit of Lwów's students is regarded as the event which spurred their Kraków's collegaues into founding their own teams, thus Cracovia and Wisła Kraków were created soon afterwards. In late September 1906, Kraków's team came to Lwów, beating the locals 1:0.
In 1907 the name was changed to Pogoń ("Pogoń" is Polish name of the coat of arms of Lithuania
; the new name was proposed by Maksymilian Dudryk of Lechita Lwów). The new team was a merger of the two sides - Sports-Gymnastics Club of the Fourth High School, and Lechita Lwów. Hues reflected the merger, as Sports-Gymnastics Club players wore red - blue jerseys, and Lechita's footballers white - red. Players of the new team wore white - red jerseys and blue shorts. The change accelerated the club's growth, as soon afterwards it found a rich sponsor, Ludwik Kuchar, who was the owner of several cinemas located in Lwów and Kraków
. Next the statutes of Pogoń were established, based on statutes of English sports organizations. Pogoń was a co-founder of the PZPN (Polish Football Association) (1919), as well as a founding member of the Polish Football League
, which started in the spring of 1927. Pogoń's first manager was doctor Eugeniusz Piasecki, who remained on this post until 1909.
During the first years of existence, Pogoń played games against other local teams, and in 1907 its lineup consisted of the following footballers: Rysiak, Marion, Kawecki, Harasymowicz, Spanring, Rzadki, Pirozynski, Kleban, Dudryk, Karasinski, Zausner. In April and May 1908, Pogoń went to Kraków, tying with Cracovia 1:1, and losing to Wisła 0:2. The first international game took place in May 1909, when Pogoń went to Košice
, losing 0:5 to the champion of northern Hungary
, Kassai AC. In September 1909, the Hungarians visited Lwów, winning 4:1. In 1910, Pogoń joined the Austrian Football Association
, which enabled the club to make contacts with several teams of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. In 1911, Pogoń sensationally beat 6:1 the team of Vienna
. Other scores of that year were: 1:3 and 1:4 with Victoria Vienna, 3:0 and 4:2 with the Hungarian side Ungvari, 4:2 with the German team Diana Kattowitz, 2:3 and 2:3 with Budapesti FAC, 4:6 with Kassai AC, 0:4 and 1:4 with ASV Hertha Vienna, 1:5 and 1:1 with 1. Simmeringer SC.
In 1912, Pogoń went for the first time to Warsaw
, where it beat 6:2 the team of the city. In the same year, Pogoń played against Budapesti FAC (2:2 and 1:0), Debreceni VSC
(8:3 and 4:1), Ungvari AC (5:0), and Magyar AC (1:3 and 0:1). Among the team's players were: Steifer and Reiner (goalkeepers), Karasinski, Rzadki and Solecki (defenders), Tadeusz Kuchar
, Piotrowski, Kleban, Misinski, Moeller (midfielders), Kawecki, Karol Kuchar, Bodek, Romanowski, Marion, Bedlewicz and Wladyslaw Kuchar (forwards). On May 1, 1913, a new stadium was opened with a Pogoń - Cracovia game. This match was the debut of Waclaw Kuchar
. Also, in 1913, the Austrian Football Federation added Pogoń to the first class teams.
terminated the 1914 Championships of Galicia
. In the spring of 1914, Pogoń hosted two Hungarian teams - Toerekves (1:4 and 0:2), as well as Budapesti TC (0:2, 0:5). In 1915 there were no matches, and the club returned in 1916, when the city was occupied by the troops of the Russian Empire
. Due to the initiative of professor Rudolf Wacek, two teams were created - the “civilians”, and the “military”. In the fall of that year, after the Russians had withdrawn from Lwów, Pogoń played at home against Cracovia (October 1, 0:2), and then went to Kraków, to lose 0:7.
In 1917, while the conflict was still on, Pogoń played several matches versus teams of the Austrian Army units, stationed in the city. Also, it faced Rewera Stanisławów and Vasas Budapest. The Hungarians beat the “civilians” 6:0, and the “military” 4:1. In early August 1917, the team of Vienna came to Lwów, winning one game 5:2 and losing another 1:2.
, a military conflict between the Poles and the Ukrainians began (see Polish-Ukrainian War
), and athletes of Pogoń were unable to play any matches until well into 1919. When the hostilities had stopped, Lwów’s side went on several away games across newly restored Poland, visiting Poznań
, Warsaw, Łódź and Kraków. In the immediate postwar period, Pogoń’s lineup consisted of Mieczyslaw Kuchar (goalkeeper), Piotrowski and Wojcicki (defenders), Fluhr, Owsionka, Kusionowicz (midfielders), Juras, Dobrzynski, Wacek Kuchar, Garbien, Batsch, Slonecki (forwards).
In June 1920, at the height of Polish-Soviet War
, Pogoń went to Upper Silesia
, to face German sides of that area. The tournament was a propaganda exercise, with its main purpose to show Polish-speaking Upper Silesians the strength of Polish sports. Two games were of special importance - one versus Diana Kattowitz (5:0), and another versus Beuthen 09 (3:2). After Pogoń’s visit, Poles in Upper Silesia began founding their own teams.
In 1921, in the first completed games for the Championships of Poland (the 1920 games were not finished because of the war), Pogoń represented Lwów’s district of the Polish Football Association. However, in the final tournament, Lwów’s team was placed in the last (fourth) position, after the champions (Cracovia Kraków), Polonia Warszawa
, and Warta Poznań
.
1922 was the beginning of the golden era of Pogoń’s football team. It was then that Lwów’s side won the first Polish championship, owing not only to a score of talented players, but also to Austrian coach named K. Fischer, who preferred an offensive, modern style of play. In the first stage, which was regional competition, Pogoń beat all opponents without losing a point. Next, in the finals of Southern Poland, Lwów’s favourites twice beat Ruch Chorzow
(12:0, 6:0), and WKS Lublin (11:0 and 4:0). The toughest nut to crack was the 1921 champion, Cracovia Kraków. At home, Pogoń won 3:2, but in Kraków, lost 1:4. Nevertheless, the Leopolitans were first, due to better overall goal difference. In the final stage, Pogoń faced the champions of Northern Poland, Warta Poznań
. In Poznań
, the game ended in a 1:1 draw, and in Lwów the home team won 4:3, thus becoming the 1922 Champions.
In 1923, Pogoń again became the champions of Lwów’s district of the Polish Football Association, winning 9 games and drawing 1 (with the record victory 21:1 versus Rewera Stanislawow
). Then, in the Eastern Poland group of the Championship it won all games, routing Lauda Wilno 13:0, and WKS Lublin 8:0 and 7:0. The final games against the champions of Western Poland Wisla Kraków
, ended in a tie; in Lwów Pogoń won 3:0, and in Kraków, Wisla was better, winning 2:1. Therefore, a third match was necessary, in Warsaw. Pogoń won in extra time 2:1. In the summer of that year, Pogoń went to Yugoslavia
, but without major successes. The Leopolitans lost to Concordia Zagreb 2:3, and HASK Zagreb 0:1. In Belgrade
, Pogoń won one game and lost another 0:4, to SK Jugoslavija
. Furthermore, a number of foreign teams visited Lwów - VfB Admira Wacker Mödling
(4:6 and 3:3), Eintracht Leipzig (7:1), Kispest AC
(1:1 and 2:2), WAF Vienna (3:1 and 2:1), and Hakoah Vienna (2:1).
In 1924, due to the Olympic Games
in Paris
, the championships of Poland were not played. Therefore, Pogoń had a lot of time for numeral friendly games, both with Polish and foreign opponents. Altogether, the club played 55 matches, including 24 with teams from other countries. Among others, it beat the 1922 champion of Denmark
, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
(3:1), twice beat HAŠK Zagreb (4:2 and 2:1), and twice lost to the champion of Austria
, SV Amateure
(0:1, 0:2).
Pogoń was at the height of its form in the 1925 football season. For nine months of that year, the Leopolitans did not lose a single game to a Polish opponent, finally conceding an away game vs. Polonia Warszawa on September 13. The club purchased a very talented goalkeeper from Katowice
, Emil Goerlitz, who also represented the national team of the country. Apart from winning the Polish championships, Pogoń played against teams as Hakoah Vienna (2:1, 0:2), WAC Vienna (4:0 and 1:3), SV Amateure (3:1, 2:2), Simmering (0:2, 2:4), and Sparta Prague. The lineup consisted of Gorlitz (golakeeper), Olearczyk and Giebartowski (defenders), Hanke, Fichtel, Gulicz (midfielders), Slonecki, Batsch, W. Kuchar, Grabien and Szabakiewicz (forwards).
After the successes of 1925, Pogoń found itself in severe financial trouble, and the following year, the club was unable to contract any games with foreign opponents. Thus, the team could not afford to play any games with foreign opponents and limited itself to facing Polish sides. For the fourth time in a row, Pogoń turned out to be the best Polish team, beating on the way to championship Cracovia Kraków, WKS/Lublinianka Lublin, Warta Poznań (2:2, 7:1), and Polonia Warszawa (2:2, 2:0). The 1926 success was the last championship for the club, and the winners fielded such players, as Lachowicz (goalkeeper), Olearczyk, Giebartowski (defenders), Deutschman, Fichtel, Hanke (midfielders), Urlich, Batsch, W. Kuchar, Grabien, Szabakiewicz (forwards). Top stars were three forwards - Kuchar, Batsch and Grabien, who altogether in 4 years scored 284 goals - Kuchar 125, Batsch 96, and Grabien 63.
In 1927 the championship of Poland was reorganized with creation of the Football League
. Pogoń, as its founder and champion of the country, was automatically added to the League. In the first year, Lwów’s side finished games on the 4th position. It must be mentioned that Pogoń was stripped of 6 points, because it played a friendly game with Cracovia - the team that was banned by the League. As the League was very time-consuming, Pogoń played only one international friendly, beating the Romanian side Fulgerul Bucharest 4:2 at home . In goal, a young, talented keeper Spirydion Albanski
appeared. The 1928 season was average, with Pogoń finishing on the 6th spot. In the two international friendlies, the Leopolians lost to Cechie Karlin 1:3, and to Vasas Budapest
0:2. The 1929 season was even worse - Lwów’s side was placed on the 9th position.
, Adolf Zimmer), who were supported by veterans - Waclaw Kuchar, Hanke, or Szabakiewicz. In international friendlies, Pogoń beat 3:0 Jahn Czernowitz, ethnic German side from Cernauti, and lost to III Kerulet FC 3:5, 1:2, as well as Atilla Miskolc 1:3.
The 1931 season marked resurgence of form. After purchasing Karol Kossok
from Cracovia and Edmund Majowski
from AKS Chorzow
, Pogoń finished on the 4th spot, only two points behind the champion, Garbarnia Kraków
. In this year’s lone international game, the Leopolians beat Hakkoah Vienna 1:0. Next year was even better, with Pogoń finishing on the second position, one point behind the champion, Cracovia. The lineup consisted of the following players: Albanski, Jezewski, Kucharski, Hanin, W. Kuchar, Deutschman, Niechciol, Nachaczewski, Schlaff, Matyas II, Zimmer, Matyas I. In 1932, veteran forward Waclaw Kuchar
celebrated the 20th anniversary of active playing. Pogoń played twice versus Hungarians of Attila Miskolc, losing 2:4, and winning 1:0.
In the 1933 season, Pogoń was once again very close to winning the championship, ending in the second position. In that year, Waclaw Kuchar finished career, and was replaced by a very talented midfielder Jan Wasiewicz
. In international games, Pogoń beat 3:0 Standard Liege
, twice played the Czech team Sparta Kosire (1:5, 5:2), beat Hakoah Vienna 2:0, and tied with Hakoah Cernauti 2:2.
In 1934 Pogoń saw a decline in form, finishing on the sixth position. One of the reasons for the drop in performance was a severe injury of its top scorer, Michal Matyas
. In spring of that year, however, the Leopolians went on a tournee to Belgium
and France
. They lost to Olympique Lille
0:1, beat the top Belgian team R. Daring Club Molenbeek
2:1 and lost to R.F.C. de Liege
0:1. In the fall of 1934, Pogoń hosted in Lwów the renowned team of AC Milan, beating the Italians 5:3. At the end of the season, the Leopolians twice lost to Brocskay Debrecen 0:2 and 1:2.
1935 was a better year, as Pogoń for the third time finished the Ekstraklasa games on the second position. Michal Matyas
returned after the injury, and proved his quality, scoring 22 goals (out of total 55 Pogoń’s league scores), which made him the top scorer of the country. In international friendlies, the Leopolians twice played against FC Seged (1:1, 0:1), lost 2:7 to Wiener AC
and 0:2 to Admira Wacker Vienna and finally lost and drew against Hakoah Vienna (0:1 and 2:2). In the late fall of 1935, the second-best team of Poland went to Vienna
, but the trip was a disaster. Pogoń was twice routed, losing 3:13 to Admira and 2:9 to Rapid.
In 1936, a generation of young, talented players appeared in Lwów, with Adam Wolanin
and Stanislaw Szmyd. The team finished Ekstraklasa games on the 6th position, and in summer of that year, Pogoń hosted the champion of Bulgaria
, Levski Sofia, winning 1:0. A number of games against Austrian teams again ended in a disaster - Pogoń lost 5 matches and won only one.
The 1937 season was one of the worst in Pogoń’s history. After the spring round (back then, Polish league played in a spring - autumn system), the Leopolians were on the last position, with only 4 points. During the summer break, Pogoń went on a training camp to Troki, and after the camp, the team returned to form, winning several games, which elevated it to the 6th position. Among the victories, the most notable was beating of AKS Chorzow
1:0 in Chorzow. This result allowed Cracovia to become champion of Poland. In 1937, Pogoń played several international friendlies, including two games with exotic side Hapoel Tel Aviv (both won 4:2 and 7:2).
In 1938, the last completed pre-war season of the Ekstraklasa, Pogoń ended in the 5th position. That year the club played only three international games - against Budafok 1:1 and twice against Kispesti 0:2, 0:1. Altogether, during 35 years of existence, the Leopolians played 955 games, out of which 557 were victories, 263 loses and 135 draws.
and along the line of the Odra river. Pogoń's former officials as well as its players, who wanted to continue their sports activities, helped with founding of several sports clubs. Among clubs that can be regarded as Pogoń's continuation, there are: Polonia Bytom
, Odra Opole
, Piast Gliwice
and Pogoń Szczecin
. All these teams have the same hues as Pogon, and similar logos. Odra Opole was originally called Lwowianka, but the name was disliked by Communist authorities and had to be changed some time in late 1940s.
In April 2009, due to the initiative of young Polish inhabitants of Lviv
, helped by Foundation Semper Polonia, Pogoń Lwów was established again. Led by coach Wladzimierz Mandziak, who had previously coached youth teams of Karpaty Lviv, Pogoń is an amateur side, whose players are Polish teenagers, mostly students of two Lviv’s elementary schools, where Polish language is taught. The team practises at the Dynamo stadium and its founders plan to re-open other departments of the famous organization. The initiative was very warmly welcomed in Poland, on April 29, 2009, the players of Pogoń were introduced to a delegation of Polish parliamentarians, who promised help.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 14:00 local time, the first official post-World War Two game of Pogoń Lwów took place. The newly recreated team faced another side of the Polish minority in Ukraine, the Polonia Khmelnitsky
. The match, played at the Szkolar stadium (next to the Lychakiv Cemetery), ended with Lviv's side 2-0 victory, with both goals scored by Pawel Winiarski, graduate of the Lviv University
. Before the game, an orchestra played anthems of Poland, Ukraine and the club. Among the viewers there were several supporters of Pogoń, wearing scarves with club's hues. There were also officials from Poland, including parliamentarians, and the delegations of two Polish clubs, Polonia Warszawa, and Polonia Bytom. Lviv's players put on the traditional jerseys, funded by the Sejm
.
Together with the game the celebrations of Pogoń's recreation took place. The day began with a Roman Catholic Mass
in Lviv's Cathedral
. Then, at the Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów
, flowers were laid down on graves of pre-war players and officials of the club.
1927-1939 Polish Soccer League
Note: There was really no cup competition in early seasons. The initially started in 1926 the competition was discontinued for about 40(!) years. In 1936 through 1939 there was the Polish President Cup where the best players from each regions competed. However, it really was not until 1938 right before the war when the Ekstraklasa players participated in that Cup. The united Lwów team of 1938 consisting mostly out of Pogoń Lwów players managed to overcome the united Kraków team (consisting of Wisla Kraków) in the finals and winning the competition.
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...
professional sports club which was located in Lwów (now Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
in the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), and existed from 1904 until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. It was the second oldest Polish football club behind other teams from Lwów - Czarni
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 Lechia
Lechia Lwów
Lechia Lwów was the first Polish professional football club, founded on summer 1903 in Lwów....
. With numerous departments, among them football, ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, Pogoń was a major force of Polish sports in the interbellum period; its football team was never relegated from the elite Polish Football League. The club ceased to exist in September 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland. On July 2, 1939, Pogoń played last pre-war official home game, drawing 1-1 with AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów is a sports club in based in Chorzów, Poland. It is one of the earliest sports organizations in Upper Silesia and is still well-known nationally for its football and handball teams...
. The last pre-war game of the Pogoń's football team took place in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on August 20, 1939. Lwów's side lost 1-2 to Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
, scorer of the last goal was the 20-year old forward Piotr Dreher. The club was recreated in 2009.
From founding to 1914
The history of the club dates back to the spring of 1904, when a Sports-Gymnastics Club at Lwów's (the city, known then as Lemberg, belonged at the beginning of the 20th century to Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
) Fourth High School was founded by a group of students, inspired by their gymnastics teacher, doctor Eugeniusz Piasecki
Eugeniusz Piasecki
Eugeniusz Piasecki was a Polish physician, promotor of sports and hygiene and boyscouting activist....
. The organisation was based on several minor students teams, which had existed in the city since 1900, and which had played several football games with opponents from other high schools. The team of Fourth High School went together with players of 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...
in May 1906 to Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, where they tied with local students 1:1. The visit of Lwów's students is regarded as the event which spurred their Kraków's collegaues into founding their own teams, thus Cracovia and Wisła Kraków were created soon afterwards. In late September 1906, Kraków's team came to Lwów, beating the locals 1:0.
In 1907 the name was changed to Pogoń ("Pogoń" is Polish name of the coat of arms of Lithuania
Coat of arms of Lithuania
The coat of arms of Lithuania, consisting of an armor-clad knight on horseback holding an olden sword and shield, is also known as Vytis . The Lithuanian coat of arms is one of the oldest national coats of arms in Europe...
; the new name was proposed by Maksymilian Dudryk of Lechita Lwów). The new team was a merger of the two sides - Sports-Gymnastics Club of the Fourth High School, and Lechita Lwów. Hues reflected the merger, as Sports-Gymnastics Club players wore red - blue jerseys, and Lechita's footballers white - red. Players of the new team wore white - red jerseys and blue shorts. The change accelerated the club's growth, as soon afterwards it found a rich sponsor, Ludwik Kuchar, who was the owner of several cinemas located in Lwów and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. Next the statutes of Pogoń were established, based on statutes of English sports organizations. Pogoń was a co-founder of the PZPN (Polish Football Association) (1919), as well as a founding member of the Polish Football League
Polish Football League 1927-1939
-Beginnings:In the years 1921–1926, the football championships were organized in a non-league way. Firstly, there were regional games, then 9 champions of those regions were divided into 3 groups - western, southern and northern and finally, there were champions of these groups playing each...
, which started in the spring of 1927. Pogoń's first manager was doctor Eugeniusz Piasecki, who remained on this post until 1909.
During the first years of existence, Pogoń played games against other local teams, and in 1907 its lineup consisted of the following footballers: Rysiak, Marion, Kawecki, Harasymowicz, Spanring, Rzadki, Pirozynski, Kleban, Dudryk, Karasinski, Zausner. In April and May 1908, Pogoń went to Kraków, tying with Cracovia 1:1, and losing to Wisła 0:2. The first international game took place in May 1909, when Pogoń went to Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, losing 0:5 to the champion of northern 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...
, Kassai AC. In September 1909, the Hungarians visited Lwów, winning 4:1. In 1910, Pogoń joined the Austrian Football Association
Austrian Football Association
The Austrian Football Association is the governing body of football in Austria. It organizes the football league, Austrian Bundesliga, the Austrian Cup and the Austrian national team, as well as its female equivalent. It is based in Vienna....
, which enabled the club to make contacts with several teams of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire. In 1911, Pogoń sensationally beat 6:1 the team of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Other scores of that year were: 1:3 and 1:4 with Victoria Vienna, 3:0 and 4:2 with the Hungarian side Ungvari, 4:2 with the German team Diana Kattowitz, 2:3 and 2:3 with Budapesti FAC, 4:6 with Kassai AC, 0:4 and 1:4 with ASV Hertha Vienna, 1:5 and 1:1 with 1. Simmeringer SC.
In 1912, Pogoń went for the first time to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, where it beat 6:2 the team of the city. In the same year, Pogoń played against Budapesti FAC (2:2 and 1:0), Debreceni VSC
Debreceni VSC
Debreceni VSC or just Debrecen or DVSC is a football club from the city of Debrecen in Hungary. They are best known for reaching the group stages of the UEFA Champions League 2009–10 season. Debreceni VSC has been the most successful Hungarian club since 2000. The club has won the Hungarian...
(8:3 and 4:1), Ungvari AC (5:0), and Magyar AC (1:3 and 0:1). Among the team's players were: Steifer and Reiner (goalkeepers), Karasinski, Rzadki and Solecki (defenders), Tadeusz Kuchar
Tadeusz Kuchar
Tadeusz Kuchar was a Polish athlete, soccer player, swimmer, ice-skater, skier, sports official, and the brother of Wacław Kuchar....
, Piotrowski, Kleban, Misinski, Moeller (midfielders), Kawecki, Karol Kuchar, Bodek, Romanowski, Marion, Bedlewicz and Wladyslaw Kuchar (forwards). On May 1, 1913, a new stadium was opened with a Pogoń - Cracovia game. This match was the debut of Waclaw Kuchar
Waclaw Kuchar
Wacław Michał Kuchar was a Polish sports champion, olympian, and multiple soccer, track and field and ice skating champion of the country....
. Also, in 1913, the Austrian Football Federation added Pogoń to the first class teams.
World War One
The outbreak of 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...
terminated the 1914 Championships of Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and Austria–Hungary from 1772 to 1918 .This historical region in eastern Central Europe is currently divided between Poland and Ukraine...
. In the spring of 1914, Pogoń hosted two Hungarian teams - Toerekves (1:4 and 0:2), as well as Budapesti TC (0:2, 0:5). In 1915 there were no matches, and the club returned in 1916, when the city was occupied by the troops of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. Due to the initiative of professor Rudolf Wacek, two teams were created - the “civilians”, and the “military”. In the fall of that year, after the Russians had withdrawn from Lwów, Pogoń played at home against Cracovia (October 1, 0:2), and then went to Kraków, to lose 0:7.
In 1917, while the conflict was still on, Pogoń played several matches versus teams of the Austrian Army units, stationed in the city. Also, it faced Rewera Stanisławów and Vasas Budapest. The Hungarians beat the “civilians” 6:0, and the “military” 4:1. In early August 1917, the team of Vienna came to Lwów, winning one game 5:2 and losing another 1:2.
Golden years - 1920s
Immediately after 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...
, a military conflict between the Poles and the Ukrainians began (see Polish-Ukrainian War
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
), and athletes of Pogoń were unable to play any matches until well into 1919. When the hostilities had stopped, Lwów’s side went on several away games across newly restored Poland, visiting 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...
, Warsaw, Łódź and Kraków. In the immediate postwar period, Pogoń’s lineup consisted of Mieczyslaw Kuchar (goalkeeper), Piotrowski and Wojcicki (defenders), Fluhr, Owsionka, Kusionowicz (midfielders), Juras, Dobrzynski, Wacek Kuchar, Garbien, Batsch, Slonecki (forwards).
In June 1920, at the height of Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
, Pogoń went to 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...
, to face German sides of that area. The tournament was a propaganda exercise, with its main purpose to show Polish-speaking Upper Silesians the strength of Polish sports. Two games were of special importance - one versus Diana Kattowitz (5:0), and another versus Beuthen 09 (3:2). After Pogoń’s visit, Poles in Upper Silesia began founding their own teams.
In 1921, in the first completed games for the Championships of Poland (the 1920 games were not finished because of the war), Pogoń represented Lwów’s district of the Polish Football Association. However, in the final tournament, Lwów’s team was placed in the last (fourth) position, after the champions (Cracovia Kraków), Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
, and Warta Poznań
Warta Poznan
Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
.
1922 was the beginning of the golden era of Pogoń’s football team. It was then that Lwów’s side won the first Polish championship, owing not only to a score of talented players, but also to Austrian coach named K. Fischer, who preferred an offensive, modern style of play. In the first stage, which was regional competition, Pogoń beat all opponents without losing a point. Next, in the finals of Southern Poland, Lwów’s favourites twice beat Ruch Chorzow
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...
(12:0, 6:0), and WKS Lublin (11:0 and 4:0). The toughest nut to crack was the 1921 champion, Cracovia Kraków. At home, Pogoń won 3:2, but in Kraków, lost 1:4. Nevertheless, the Leopolitans were first, due to better overall goal difference. In the final stage, Pogoń faced the champions of Northern Poland, Warta Poznań
Warta Poznan
Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
. 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...
, the game ended in a 1:1 draw, and in Lwów the home team won 4:3, thus becoming the 1922 Champions.
In 1923, Pogoń again became the champions of Lwów’s district of the Polish Football Association, winning 9 games and drawing 1 (with the record victory 21:1 versus Rewera Stanislawow
Rewera Stanislawów
Wojskowo-Cywilny Klub Sportowy Rewera Stanisławów was a Polish football team, located in Stanisławów , on the historic territory of Kresy Wschodnie ....
). Then, in the Eastern Poland group of the Championship it won all games, routing Lauda Wilno 13:0, and WKS Lublin 8:0 and 7:0. The final games against the champions of Western Poland Wisla Kraków
Wisla Kraków
Wisła Kraków is a football club based in Kraków, Poland. Wisła contends in Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish professional football competition. Wisła Kraków is one of the oldest and most successful Polish football clubs. It ranks third in the number of national titles won behind Górnik Zabrze...
, ended in a tie; in Lwów Pogoń won 3:0, and in Kraków, Wisla was better, winning 2:1. Therefore, a third match was necessary, in Warsaw. Pogoń won in extra time 2:1. In the summer of that year, Pogoń went to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, but without major successes. The Leopolitans lost to Concordia Zagreb 2:3, and HASK Zagreb 0:1. In Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Pogoń won one game and lost another 0:4, to SK Jugoslavija
SK Jugoslavija
Sportski klub Jugoslavija, commonly known as SK Jugoslavija was a Serbian football club from Belgrade. It was originally formed as SK Velika Srbija in 1913 and changed its name to SK Jugoslavija in 1919.-History:...
. Furthermore, a number of foreign teams visited Lwów - VfB Admira Wacker Mödling
VfB Admira Wacker Mödling
FC Admira Wacker Mödling is an Austrian football club from Mödling. The club was originally formed in 1905 as SK Admira Vienna in the Austrian capital...
(4:6 and 3:3), Eintracht Leipzig (7:1), Kispest AC
Budapest Honvéd FC
Budapest Honvéd FC |football]] team. "Honved" means the Homeland Defense. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944. The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapest Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian...
(1:1 and 2:2), WAF Vienna (3:1 and 2:1), and Hakoah Vienna (2:1).
In 1924, due to the Olympic Games
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the championships of Poland were not played. Therefore, Pogoń had a lot of time for numeral friendly games, both with Polish and foreign opponents. Altogether, the club played 55 matches, including 24 with teams from other countries. Among others, it beat the 1922 champion of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub or KB is a Danish sports club based in Copenhagen. The club was founded April 26, 1876 on the grassy fields in outer Copenhagen which later became Fælledparken. Football and cricket has been played in KB since 1879, making KB the oldest football club on Continental Europe and...
(3:1), twice beat HAŠK Zagreb (4:2 and 2:1), and twice lost to the champion of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, SV Amateure
FK Austria Wien
Fußballklub Austria Wien is an Austrian association football club from the capital city of Vienna. They are considered the most successful club in Austria, having won the highest Austrian Bundesliga 23 times, the Austrian Cup 27 times and the Austrian Supercup 6 times. They also reached the UEFA...
(0:1, 0:2).
Pogoń was at the height of its form in the 1925 football season. For nine months of that year, the Leopolitans did not lose a single game to a Polish opponent, finally conceding an away game vs. Polonia Warszawa on September 13. The club purchased a very talented goalkeeper from Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Emil Goerlitz, who also represented the national team of the country. Apart from winning the Polish championships, Pogoń played against teams as Hakoah Vienna (2:1, 0:2), WAC Vienna (4:0 and 1:3), SV Amateure (3:1, 2:2), Simmering (0:2, 2:4), and Sparta Prague. The lineup consisted of Gorlitz (golakeeper), Olearczyk and Giebartowski (defenders), Hanke, Fichtel, Gulicz (midfielders), Slonecki, Batsch, W. Kuchar, Grabien and Szabakiewicz (forwards).
After the successes of 1925, Pogoń found itself in severe financial trouble, and the following year, the club was unable to contract any games with foreign opponents. Thus, the team could not afford to play any games with foreign opponents and limited itself to facing Polish sides. For the fourth time in a row, Pogoń turned out to be the best Polish team, beating on the way to championship Cracovia Kraków, WKS/Lublinianka Lublin, Warta Poznań (2:2, 7:1), and Polonia Warszawa (2:2, 2:0). The 1926 success was the last championship for the club, and the winners fielded such players, as Lachowicz (goalkeeper), Olearczyk, Giebartowski (defenders), Deutschman, Fichtel, Hanke (midfielders), Urlich, Batsch, W. Kuchar, Grabien, Szabakiewicz (forwards). Top stars were three forwards - Kuchar, Batsch and Grabien, who altogether in 4 years scored 284 goals - Kuchar 125, Batsch 96, and Grabien 63.
In 1927 the championship of Poland was reorganized with creation of the Football League
Polish Football League 1927-1939
-Beginnings:In the years 1921–1926, the football championships were organized in a non-league way. Firstly, there were regional games, then 9 champions of those regions were divided into 3 groups - western, southern and northern and finally, there were champions of these groups playing each...
. Pogoń, as its founder and champion of the country, was automatically added to the League. In the first year, Lwów’s side finished games on the 4th position. It must be mentioned that Pogoń was stripped of 6 points, because it played a friendly game with Cracovia - the team that was banned by the League. As the League was very time-consuming, Pogoń played only one international friendly, beating the Romanian side Fulgerul Bucharest 4:2 at home . In goal, a young, talented keeper Spirydion Albanski
Spirydion Albanski
Spirydion Jan Albański , nicknamed "Spirytus" and "Romek", was a Polish football goalkeeper in the 1930s. He played for Pogoń Lwów and the Polish National Team.Albański was born in Lwów...
appeared. The 1928 season was average, with Pogoń finishing on the 6th spot. In the two international friendlies, the Leopolians lost to Cechie Karlin 1:3, and to Vasas Budapest
Vasas SC
Vasas SC is one of Hungary's major sports clubs. Most of its facilities are situated in Budapest's 13th district in the north of the town. Members of the Hungarian Union of Iron Workers founded the club as Vas-és Fémmunkások Sport Clubja, the "Sport Club of Iron and Steel Workers", on 16 March 1911...
0:2. The 1929 season was even worse - Lwów’s side was placed on the 9th position.
1930s
In 1930, the team of Pogoń was far from its glorious past, completing the season on the distant, 7th position. The lineup consisted of a generation of young players (Albanski, Jezewski, Deutschman, Nahaczewski, Maurer, Michal MatyasMichal Matyas
Michał Franciszek Mieczysław Matyas was a Polish football player, who represented such teams as Pogoń Lwów and Polonia Bytom, as well as Poland....
, Adolf Zimmer), who were supported by veterans - Waclaw Kuchar, Hanke, or Szabakiewicz. In international friendlies, Pogoń beat 3:0 Jahn Czernowitz, ethnic German side from Cernauti, and lost to III Kerulet FC 3:5, 1:2, as well as Atilla Miskolc 1:3.
The 1931 season marked resurgence of form. After purchasing Karol Kossok
Karol Kossok
Karol Albert Kossok . A Polish soccer forward, a.k.a. “the Silesian Giant”, Kossok was the best scorer of the Polish First Division in 1930 ....
from Cracovia and Edmund Majowski
Edmund Majowski
Edmund Majowski was a Polish football player and coach.-Playing career:Majowski, who played as a striker, spent his professional career in both Poland and Austria, playing for AKS Chorzów, Pogoń Lwów and Admira Vienna.Majowski also represented Poland at international level, scoring one goal in...
from AKS Chorzow
AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów is a sports club in based in Chorzów, Poland. It is one of the earliest sports organizations in Upper Silesia and is still well-known nationally for its football and handball teams...
, Pogoń finished on the 4th spot, only two points behind the champion, 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...
. In this year’s lone international game, the Leopolians beat Hakkoah Vienna 1:0. Next year was even better, with Pogoń finishing on the second position, one point behind the champion, Cracovia. The lineup consisted of the following players: Albanski, Jezewski, Kucharski, Hanin, W. Kuchar, Deutschman, Niechciol, Nachaczewski, Schlaff, Matyas II, Zimmer, Matyas I. In 1932, veteran forward Waclaw Kuchar
Waclaw Kuchar
Wacław Michał Kuchar was a Polish sports champion, olympian, and multiple soccer, track and field and ice skating champion of the country....
celebrated the 20th anniversary of active playing. Pogoń played twice versus Hungarians of Attila Miskolc, losing 2:4, and winning 1:0.
In the 1933 season, Pogoń was once again very close to winning the championship, ending in the second position. In that year, Waclaw Kuchar finished career, and was replaced by a very talented midfielder Jan Wasiewicz
Jan Wasiewicz
Jan Karol Wasiewicz was an interwar Polish soccer player. Wasiewicz was a midfielder both in Pogoń Lwów , and the Polish National Team.His career started in 1926 in another Lwów team - RKS. Then he moved to Lechia Lwów and in 1933 to Pogoń...
. In international games, Pogoń beat 3:0 Standard Liege
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, twice played the Czech team Sparta Kosire (1:5, 5:2), beat Hakoah Vienna 2:0, and tied with Hakoah Cernauti 2:2.
In 1934 Pogoń saw a decline in form, finishing on the sixth position. One of the reasons for the drop in performance was a severe injury of its top scorer, Michal Matyas
Michal Matyas
Michał Franciszek Mieczysław Matyas was a Polish football player, who represented such teams as Pogoń Lwów and Polonia Bytom, as well as Poland....
. In spring of that year, however, the Leopolians went on a tournee to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They lost to Olympique Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
0:1, beat the top Belgian team R. Daring Club Molenbeek
R. Daring Club Molenbeek
Royal Daring Club Molenbeek was a football team from the city of Brussels, Belgium until 1973. It was created in 1895 as Daring Club de Bruxelles and was the second club to register to the Belgian Football Association , but it was admitted to the league only in 1903.-History:Until 1899, the team...
2:1 and lost to R.F.C. de Liege
R.F.C. de Liège
Royal Football Club de Liège is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège. It currently plays in the Belgian Third Division. Its matricule is 4, meaning that it was the fourth club to register with the country's national federation, and the club was the first Belgian champion in history...
0:1. In the fall of 1934, Pogoń hosted in Lwów the renowned team of AC Milan, beating the Italians 5:3. At the end of the season, the Leopolians twice lost to Brocskay Debrecen 0:2 and 1:2.
1935 was a better year, as Pogoń for the third time finished the Ekstraklasa games on the second position. Michal Matyas
Michal Matyas
Michał Franciszek Mieczysław Matyas was a Polish football player, who represented such teams as Pogoń Lwów and Polonia Bytom, as well as Poland....
returned after the injury, and proved his quality, scoring 22 goals (out of total 55 Pogoń’s league scores), which made him the top scorer of the country. In international friendlies, the Leopolians twice played against FC Seged (1:1, 0:1), lost 2:7 to Wiener AC
Wiener AC
Wiener Athletiksport Club, also known as Wiener AC or WAC, is an Austrian sports club in Vienna. It is particularly noted for its hockey team, which was established in 1900....
and 0:2 to Admira Wacker Vienna and finally lost and drew against Hakoah Vienna (0:1 and 2:2). In the late fall of 1935, the second-best team of Poland went to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, but the trip was a disaster. Pogoń was twice routed, losing 3:13 to Admira and 2:9 to Rapid.
In 1936, a generation of young, talented players appeared in Lwów, with Adam Wolanin
Adam Wolanin
Adam Wolanin was a Polish American soccer forward who was a member of the U.S. national team at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
and Stanislaw Szmyd. The team finished Ekstraklasa games on the 6th position, and in summer of that year, Pogoń hosted the champion of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Levski Sofia, winning 1:0. A number of games against Austrian teams again ended in a disaster - Pogoń lost 5 matches and won only one.
The 1937 season was one of the worst in Pogoń’s history. After the spring round (back then, Polish league played in a spring - autumn system), the Leopolians were on the last position, with only 4 points. During the summer break, Pogoń went on a training camp to Troki, and after the camp, the team returned to form, winning several games, which elevated it to the 6th position. Among the victories, the most notable was beating of AKS Chorzow
AKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów is a sports club in based in Chorzów, Poland. It is one of the earliest sports organizations in Upper Silesia and is still well-known nationally for its football and handball teams...
1:0 in Chorzow. This result allowed Cracovia to become champion of Poland. In 1937, Pogoń played several international friendlies, including two games with exotic side Hapoel Tel Aviv (both won 4:2 and 7:2).
In 1938, the last completed pre-war season of the Ekstraklasa, Pogoń ended in the 5th position. That year the club played only three international games - against Budafok 1:1 and twice against Kispesti 0:2, 0:1. Altogether, during 35 years of existence, the Leopolians played 955 games, out of which 557 were victories, 263 loses and 135 draws.
Currently
After the war, when it became clear that Lwów would no longer belong to Poland, its Polish citizens were forced to leave the city. Most of them settled in Lower SilesiaLower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
and along the line of the Odra river. Pogoń's former officials as well as its players, who wanted to continue their sports activities, helped with founding of several sports clubs. Among clubs that can be regarded as Pogoń's continuation, there are: 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...
, Odra Opole
Odra Opole
Odra Opole is a football club based in Opole, Poland, currently playing in the Polish First League...
, Piast Gliwice
Piast Gliwice
Gliwicki Klub Sportowy Piast Gliwice is a Polish football club based in Gliwice, Poland. Founded in June 1945 by the Poles who had been forced to leave their homeland in present-day Western Ukraine, Piast's football team played as many as 32 seasons in the Polish Second Division, before finally...
and Pogoń Szczecin
Pogon Szczecin
MKS Pogoń Szczecin is a Polish professional football club, based in Szczecin, Poland. The club was founded by Poles from Lwów , who had been transferred west after the Soviet annexation of Poland's eastern territories in 1945. The founders of Pogoń Szczecin had previously been supporters of Pogoń...
. All these teams have the same hues as Pogon, and similar logos. Odra Opole was originally called Lwowianka, but the name was disliked by Communist authorities and had to be changed some time in late 1940s.
In April 2009, due to the initiative of young Polish inhabitants of Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, helped by Foundation Semper Polonia, Pogoń Lwów was established again. Led by coach Wladzimierz Mandziak, who had previously coached youth teams of Karpaty Lviv, Pogoń is an amateur side, whose players are Polish teenagers, mostly students of two Lviv’s elementary schools, where Polish language is taught. The team practises at the Dynamo stadium and its founders plan to re-open other departments of the famous organization. The initiative was very warmly welcomed in Poland, on April 29, 2009, the players of Pogoń were introduced to a delegation of Polish parliamentarians, who promised help.
On Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 14:00 local time, the first official post-World War Two game of Pogoń Lwów took place. The newly recreated team faced another side of the Polish minority in Ukraine, the Polonia Khmelnitsky
Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine
Khmelnytskyi is a city in Ukraine in the region of Podillia. It is located on the Southern Buh River and about from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. The town's original name was Płoskirów, later Proskurov, but in 1954 was renamed Khmelnytskyi. It is the center of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast in western...
. The match, played at the Szkolar stadium (next to the Lychakiv Cemetery), ended with Lviv's side 2-0 victory, with both goals scored by Pawel Winiarski, graduate of the Lviv University
Lviv University
The Lviv University or officially the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is the oldest continuously operating university in Ukraine...
. Before the game, an orchestra played anthems of Poland, Ukraine and the club. Among the viewers there were several supporters of Pogoń, wearing scarves with club's hues. There were also officials from Poland, including parliamentarians, and the delegations of two Polish clubs, Polonia Warszawa, and Polonia Bytom. Lviv's players put on the traditional jerseys, funded by the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
.
Together with the game the celebrations of Pogoń's recreation took place. The day began with a Roman Catholic Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in Lviv's Cathedral
Latin Cathedral, Lviv
The Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lviv, in western Ukraine, usually called simply the Latin Cathedral , is located in city's Old Town, in the south western corner of market square....
. Then, at the Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów
Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów
The Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów is a memorial and a burial place for the Poles and their allies who died in Lviv during the hostilities of the Polish-Ukrainian War and Polish-Soviet War between 1918 and 1920....
, flowers were laid down on graves of pre-war players and officials of the club.
Departments
- Football, founded in 1904
- Track and field, founded in 1907
- Watersports, founded in 1908
- Wintersports, founded in 1908 (Later on, ice-hockey, skating and skiing departments were created out of it.)
- Tennis, founded in 1909
- Cycling, founded in 1909
- Wrestling, founded in 1910
- Handball, founded in 1910
- Boxing, founded in 1926
- Fencing, founded in 1927
- Table-tennis, founded in 1930
- Archery, founded in 1932
- Kayaking, founded in 1933
- Shooting, founded in 1934
Football honours
- 4 times Polish ChampionsPolish Championship in FootballPolish Championship in FootballYear, 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place* 1913: Cracovia, Pogoń Lwów, Czarni Lwów * 1920: abandoned * 1921: Cracovia, Polonia Warszawa, Warta Poznań...
: 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926. - 3 times Polish Vice-Champions: 1932, 1933, 1935.
- junior Vice-Champions of Poland: 1937 (see: Football Junior Championships of PolandFootball Junior Championships of PolandFootball Junior Championships of Poland Under-19 is a competition with a long, 71-year old history, which started in the summer of 1936.-1936:...
)
Honours in other sports
- Ice hockey - Champion of Poland 1933 (together with Legia WarszawaLegia WarszawaLegia Warszawa is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions...
), vicechampion of Poland (1929, 1930), third place in Polish championships (1927).
Pogoń's football team in interwar Poland
1920-1926 non-league championships - the winners of regional leagues played against each other in the finals- 1920 - championships not finished due to Polish-Soviet WarPolish-Soviet WarThe Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
- 1921 - 4th in the finals, behind Cracovia, Polonia WarszawaPolonia WarszawaPolonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
and Warta PoznańWarta PoznanWarta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
, but ahead of ŁKS Łódź. To get to the finals, Pogoń had won regional games of the Lwów area. - 1922 - champion, after beating the champions of Northern Poland, Warta PoznańWarta PoznanWarta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is...
(1-1 and 4-3). Before the final games, Pogoń had become the champion of Southern Poland, beating Cracovia Kraków 3-2 and 1-4, Lublinianka Lublin 4-0 and 11-0 and Ruch Chorzów 12-0 and 6-0. - 1923 - champion, after beating the champions of Western Poland, Wisła Kraków. In the first leg in Lwów, Pogoń won 3-0. In the second leg, in Kraków, Wisła won 2-1 and the third game was necessary, in WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, which Pogoń won 2-1 (1-0). Before the final games, Pogoń had become the champion of Eastern Poland, beating Polonia Warszawa 5-1 and 6-1, WKS Lublin 8-0 and 7-0 and Lauda Wilno 13-0 and 3-1. - 1924 - no competition because of the 1924 Olympic Games1924 Summer OlympicsThe 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. - 1925 - champion, after beating in the finals Warta Poznań (4-1 and 2-2) and Wisła Kraków (1-0 and 1-0).
- 1926 - champion, after beating in the finals Warta Poznań (7-1 and 2-2) and Polonia WarszawaPolonia WarszawaPolonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
(1-0, 2-2 and 2-0).
1927-1939 Polish Soccer League
- 1927 - 4th, with 29 points, goals 65-42
- 1928 - 6th, with 31 points, goals 61-55
- 1929 - 9th, with 19 points, goals 43-48
- 1930 - 7th, with 19 points, goals 34-36
- 1931 - 4th, with 28 points, goals 47-33
- 1932 - 2nd, with 28 points, goals 32-24
- 1933 - 2nd in the champions group, with 13 points, goals 29-16
- 1934 - 6th, with 24 points, goals 41-38
- 1935 - 2nd, with 25 points, goals 55-31
- 1936 - 6th, with 19 points, goals 36-29
- 1937 - 6th, with 19 points, goals 25-23
- 1938 - 5th, with 19 points, goals 23-26
- 1939 - The season was not finished due to the outbreak of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At the end of August 1939, Pogoń was 3rd in the Polish Soccer League, with 16 points and goals 27-22.
League and Cup history
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Domestic Cup Polish Cup The Polish Cup in football or officially Remes Puchar Polski, is an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs, held continuously from 1950, and is the second most important national title in Polish football after the Ekstraklasa title... |
Europe | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 Ekstraklasa 1921 1921 Polish Football Championship - the championship was decided in tournament played between five teams.-Overview:5 teams played in the tournament, and Cracovia won the championship.-tournament standings:-Medal squads:... |
1st | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 13 | 6 | ||||
| 1922 Ekstraklasa 1922 1922 Polish Football Championship - the championship was decided in a series of tournaments played between eight teams.-Overview:8 teams participated in the league which was divided into 2 groups: a Southern and a Northern one... |
1st | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 8 | 10 | Championship final vs Warta Poznań Warta Poznan Warta Poznań is a football club based in Poznań, Poland. Founded in 1912, the club are two-time winners of the Polish Football Championship, in 1929 and 1947, but currently reside in the Polish First League. The name means the Guard in Polish and also a name of river Warta on which Poznań is... 4:3, 1:1 |
|||
| 1923 Ekstraklasa 1923 1923 Polish Football Championship - the championship was decided in tournament played between eight teams.-Western Group:-Eastern Group:-Final matches:*Pogoń Lwów 3-0 Wisła Kraków*Wisła Kraków 2-1 Pogoń Lwów*Pogoń Lwów 2-1 Wisła Kraków-References:*... |
1st | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 3 | 12 | Championship final vs Wisła Kraków 3:0, 1:2, 2:1 |
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| 1924 | 1st | Competition did not take place | |||||||||||
| 1925 Ekstraklasa 1925 1925 Polish Football Championship - the championship was decided in a series of tournaments played between nine teams.-Northern Group:-Eastern Group:-Southern Group:-Final Group:-References:*... |
1st | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 7 | Won qualification group with record +4=0-0, 12-1 against Pogoń Wilno and Lublinianka Lublin |
|||
| 1926 Ekstraklasa 1926 1926 Polish Football Championship - the championship was decided in tournament played between nine teams.-Western Group:-Southern Group:-Northern Group:-Final Group:-References:*... |
1st | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 6 | void | Won qualification group with record +4=0-0, 24-2 against Cracovia and Lublinianka Lublin |
||
| 1927 Ekstraklasa 1927 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 4 | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 85 | 42 | 29 | First real league competition | |||
| 1928 Ekstraklasa 1928 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 6 | 28 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 61 | 55 | 31 | ||||
| 1929 Ekstraklasa 1929 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 9 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 43 | 48 | 19 | ||||
| 1930 Ekstraklasa 1930 -Overview:It contested by 12 teams, and Cracovia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 7 | 22 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 34 | 36 | 19 | ||||
| 1931 Ekstraklasa 1931 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 4 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 33 | 29 | ||||
| 1932 Ekstraklasa 1932 -Overview:It was performed in 12 teams, and Cracovia won the championship.-League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 2 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 32 | 24 | 28 | ||||
| 1933 Ekstraklasa 1933 -Eastern Group:-Western Group:-Championship Group:-Relegation Group:-References:*... |
1st | 2 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 16 | 13 | Won the Eastern Group of six | |||
| 1934 Ekstraklasa 1934 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 6 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 41 | 38 | 24 | ||||
| 1935 Ekstraklasa 1935 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 2 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 55 | 31 | 25 | ||||
| 1936 Ekstraklasa 1936 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 6 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 36 | 29 | 19 | ||||
| 1937 Ekstraklasa 1937 -Overview:The championship was contested by 10 teams, and the title went to Cracovia.-League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 6 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 23 | 15 | ||||
| 1938 Ekstraklasa 1938 -League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 5 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 19 | ||||
| 1939 Ekstraklasa 1939 Statistics of Ekstraklasa in season 1939. The championship was unfinished because of the Nazi German attack on Poland which triggered the Second World war.-League standings:-References:*... |
1st | 3 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 22 | 16 | Did not finish due to World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
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Note: There was really no cup competition in early seasons. The initially started in 1926 the competition was discontinued for about 40(!) years. In 1936 through 1939 there was the Polish President Cup where the best players from each regions competed. However, it really was not until 1938 right before the war when the Ekstraklasa players participated in that Cup. The united Lwów team of 1938 consisting mostly out of Pogoń Lwów players managed to overcome the united Kraków team (consisting of Wisla Kraków) in the finals and winning the competition.
Famous Football Players
- Spirydion AlbańskiSpirydion AlbanskiSpirydion Jan Albański , nicknamed "Spirytus" and "Romek", was a Polish football goalkeeper in the 1930s. He played for Pogoń Lwów and the Polish National Team.Albański was born in Lwów...
- Mieczysław Batsch
- Antoni Borowski
- Stanisław Deutschmann
- Bronisław Fichtel
- Józef GarbieńJozef GarbienJózef Daniel Garbień , was a Polish football striker who played for both Pogoń Lwów and the national team. He was part of the legendary Pogoń forwards, who in the early 1920s were superior to all opponents in the country....
- Franciszek Giebartowski
- Karol HankeKarol HankeKarol Daniel Hanke - former Polish football player.He played for ŁKS Łódź and Pogoń Lwów....
- Karol KossokKarol KossokKarol Albert Kossok . A Polish soccer forward, a.k.a. “the Silesian Giant”, Kossok was the best scorer of the Polish First Division in 1930 ....
- Wacław Kuchar
- Edmund MajowskiEdmund MajowskiEdmund Majowski was a Polish football player and coach.-Playing career:Majowski, who played as a striker, spent his professional career in both Poland and Austria, playing for AKS Chorzów, Pogoń Lwów and Admira Vienna.Majowski also represented Poland at international level, scoring one goal in...
- Michał Matyas
- Władysław Olearczyk
- Ludwik Schneider
- Józef Słonecki
- Marian Steifer
- Stefan Sumara
- Ludwik Szabakiewicz
- Jan WasiewiczJan WasiewiczJan Karol Wasiewicz was an interwar Polish soccer player. Wasiewicz was a midfielder both in Pogoń Lwów , and the Polish National Team.His career started in 1926 in another Lwów team - RKS. Then he moved to Lechia Lwów and in 1933 to Pogoń...
- Adolf Zimmer
General managers of the club
- 1907-1909 prof. Eugeniusz PiaseckiEugeniusz PiaseckiEugeniusz Piasecki was a Polish physician, promotor of sports and hygiene and boyscouting activist....
- 1910 dr. Jan Lubicz-Woytkowski
- 1910-1914 dr. Stanislaw Miziewicz
- 1914-1921 prof. Rudolf Wacek
- 1921-1923 Ludwik Koziebrodzki
- 1924 Tadeusz KucharTadeusz KucharTadeusz Kuchar was a Polish athlete, soccer player, swimmer, ice-skater, skier, sports official, and the brother of Wacław Kuchar....
- 1925 Michal Parylak
- 1926-1932 dr. Wlodzimierz Dzieduszyński
- 1933-1934 colonel Ludwik Lepiarz
- 1935 dr. Romuald Klimow
- 1936 Kazimierz Protassowicz
- 1937-1938 Eugeniusz Ślepecki
- 1938-1939 dr. Jerzy Kozicki
- 2009- Marek Horbań
See also
- Karpaty Lviv, now representing the city in Ukrainian footballUkrainian Premier LeagueThe Ukrainian Premier League is the highest division of Ukrainian annual football championship. As the Supreme League it was founded in 1991 after the fold of the Soviet Union's Vysshaya Liga. In 2008 it was reformed into a more autonomous entity of the Football Federation of Ukraine and changed...
- History of football in Poland
- Lechia LwówLechia LwówLechia Lwów was the first Polish professional football club, founded on summer 1903 in Lwów....
- Czarni LwówCzarni LwówCzarni 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...
- Hasmonea LwówHasmonea LwówHasmonea Lwów was a Polish-Jewish sports club based in the city of Lwów . Created in 1908, it was the first sports club exclusively for Jewish members. It was named after the Hasmonean royal dynasty...
- Sparta LwówSparta LwówLKS Sparta Lwów was a football club based in Lwów, Poland . The club was formed in 1910. It was disbanded in September 1939 after the Soviets occupied Eastern Poland. Sparta reached the final of the Polish Cup in 1926 losing to Wisła Kraków 1:2.-References:*...
- Sports in Poland
- Polonia BytomPolonia BytomPolonia 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...
- Pogoń SzczecinPogon SzczecinMKS Pogoń Szczecin is a Polish professional football club, based in Szczecin, Poland. The club was founded by Poles from Lwów , who had been transferred west after the Soviet annexation of Poland's eastern territories in 1945. The founders of Pogoń Szczecin had previously been supporters of Pogoń...
- Wacław Kuchar
- Polish soccer (football) in interwar periodPolish soccer (football) in interwar periodThe interwar period of Polish football began in the late fall of 1918 after First World War, when Poland regained independence, which had been lost at the end of 18th century . The newly created country soon started to organize its administration and several national organizations...
- Polish Football League 1927-1939Polish Football League 1927-1939-Beginnings:In the years 1921–1926, the football championships were organized in a non-league way. Firstly, there were regional games, then 9 champions of those regions were divided into 3 groups - western, southern and northern and finally, there were champions of these groups playing each...