Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski Explained

Clubname:KS Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Fullname:Klub Sportowy Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Nickname:Dyskobole (The Discoboli)
Capacity:6,800[1]
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Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski (pronounced as /pol/), previously Groclin Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski,[2] was a Polish football club based in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Greater Poland Voivodeship.

History

Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski was founded on 30 April 1922. Its logo shows the Discobolus.

During World War II, Stanisław Zdzisław Kozłowski, co-founder of the club, was among Poles murdered by the Russians in the large Katyn massacre in April–May 1940.[3]

After several decades in lower league football, the club was taken over in the mid-1990s by Zbigniew Drzymała, president of the Inter Groclin Auto company, and enjoyed an instant string of promotions culminating in the promotion to top level football in 1997.

Not having its own youth backbone, the club was dependent on players predominantly over 30 years of age, mostly with former league experience. After performing reasonably in the autumn period of the 1997–98 season, they experienced a sudden drop in form, resulting in relegation. However, within a year, Dyskobolia was able to return to the top flight, winning the I liga. Although now having many younger and more success-hungry players in the squad, the club performed disastrously in the autumn of 1999, garnering just five points from fifteen games. An unexpected (and some say suspicious) form increase in the spring resulted in eight victories in a row, which was more than enough to fight off relegation. The club remained in the top flight, enjoying second place honors on two occasions (2003 and 2005). Managers have included Dusan Radolsky, and Andrzej Janeczek. The first runner-up title made them eligible to play in the UEFA Cup, in which they eliminated Hertha BSC and Manchester City (with three goals in four games) before falling to Girondins Bordeaux. Their second UEFA Cup run was less successful, resulting in a first round exit against RC Lens.

Dyskobolia was the original winner of the 2004–05 Polish Cup. By the resolution of the PZPN management board of 2 September 2020, the team was deprived of this title in connection with proven cases of match-fixing.[4] In July 2008, Dyskobolia announced its intention to merge with Polonia Warsaw,[5] after the expected merger with Śląsk Wrocław fell through.[6] Polonia replaced Dyskobolia in the Ekstraklasa while the new Dyskobolia team joined the IV liga, the fifth tier of the Polish league pyramid.

In the 2015–16 season, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski played in the regional league (klasa okręgowa), but withdrew after the autumn round.[7] In the following seasons, a team called Nasza Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski started to play at the lower levels, referring to the club's tradition.[8]

Colours

The club colours were green and white.

Honours

Fans

Dyskobolia, although no longer attracted as many fans as in the second division and Ekstraklasa years, possessed a small but loyal group of active supporters called Szczuny z Landu.

The fans had two fan-clubs outside their home town, in Rakoniewice and Kąkolewo, and the fans had a strong friendship with fans of Górnik Łęczyca.

Back in the top flight they competed in the Greater Poland Derby against Lech Poznań and Amica Wronki. The latter were widely considered to be their greatest rivals, a rivalry which has been renewed since the Amica's phoenix-predecessor club Błękitni Wronki has been re-established in 2007, the two frequently playing in the same division.

Notable players

Internationally capped players

Dyskobolia in Europe

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubScore
2001Intertoto Cup1RSpartak Varna1–0, 0–4
2003–04UEFA CupQAtlantas2–0, 4–1
1RHertha0–0, 1–0
2RManchester City1–1, 0–0
3RGirondins de Bordeaux0–1, 1–4
2005–06UEFA Cup2QDukla Banská Bystrica4–1, 0–0
1RLens1–1, 2–4
2007–08UEFA Cup1QAraz Imisli0–0, 1–0
2QTobol Kostanay1–0, 2–0
1RCrvena Zvezda0–1, 0–1

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dyskobolia.eu . 2009-07-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090803213256/http://www.dyskobolia.eu/ . 2009-08-03 .
  2. Web site: Groclin zbudował sukces na wielkim oszustwie. Teraz ma być "polskim Athletikiem". Sport.pl. April 2020 . pl.
  3. Web site: Uroczystość odsłonięcia Miejsca Pamięci Zbrodni Katyńskiej – Grodzisk Wielkopolski, 9 maja 2018. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej. Marta Sankiewicz. 9 November 2023. pl.
  4. http://www.90minut.pl/skarb.php?id_klub=1876&id_sezon=65 Skarb - Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
  5. Web site: Polonia coraz bliżej fuzji z Dyskobolią . 2008-07-02 . 90minut.pl .
  6. Web site: Wroclaw move ends Groclin fairytale . 2008-03-04 . UEFA.com .
  7. Web site: Klasa okręgowa 2015/2016, grupa: Poznań (zachód). 90minut. pl.
  8. Web site: Historia i osiągnięcia. Nasza Dyskobolia. pl.