GKS Bełchatów explained

Clubname:Akademia GKS Bełchatów
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Fundacja Akademia GKS Bełchatów[1]
Nickname:Gieksa
Brunatni (The Browns)
Torfiarze (The Turfers)
Ground:GIEKSA Arena
Capacity:5,264
Chairman:Szymon Serwa
Manager:Artur Derbin
League:III liga, group I
Season:2023–24
Position:III liga, group I, 4th of 18
Website:https://gksbelchatow.com.pl
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Current:2024–25 III liga

GKS Bełchatów pronounced as /pl/ is a Polish professional football club based in Bełchatów. The club currently competes in group I of the III liga.[2]

History

GKS Bełchatów entered Poland's Klasa A in 1977 under the name of Węgiel Brunatny Bełchatów,[3] and gained promotion to the III liga in the 1981–82 season.[3] It took the club another seven years to rise to the II liga (1986/1987 season), before winning a place in the top-tier I liga in 1992.[3] After another spell in II liga, the club again won promotion to the I liga at the end of the 2004–05 season. The club finished the 2005–06 season in 10th place, with 37 points.[4] The following season they challenged for the league title. After spending much of the latter part of the 2006–07 season in first place, they were ultimately overtaken by Zagłębie Lubin and had to settle for second place.[5]

On 11 March 2022, the club, then playing in the II liga, withdrew from the league and did not start playing in the spring round. As a consequence, they were moved to the last place in the 2021–22 season standings and their remaining matches being declared 0–3 forfeits for their opponents.[6] They declared liquidation on 20 April 2022.[7] On 31 May 2022, the Łódź Football Association admitted its academy (Akademia GKS Bełchatów) as its continuator to the Łódź group of the fifth division for the 2022–23 season.[8]

Achievements

Fans and rivalries

The fans are called Torfiorze (the "Turfers" in translation).[9] They have friendly relations with fans of Wisła Sandomierz.[10] Their biggest rivals are neighbours RKS Radomsko, and as Bełchatów is located in the Łódź Province, they also have rivalries with the two traditional well-established Łódź teams, ŁKS and Widzew.[10]

Bełchatów in Europe

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAggregate
2007–08UEFA Cup1QAmeri Tbilisi2–00–22–2 (4–2 pen)
2QDnipro Dnipropetrovsk2–41–13–5

Current squad

Out on loan

Managers

Notable players

Players who have been capped and/or have over 80 appearances for the club

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fundacja Akademia GKS Bełchatów . 2023-07-23 . ngo.pl . pl.
  2. Web site: Czas rozpocząć świętowanie! GKS wygrywa i awansuje do III ligi . 2023-07-23 . GKS Bełchatów . pl-PL.
  3. Web site: GKS Bełchatów - sezon po sezonie - Historia Polskiej Piłki Nożnej - HPPN.PL. www.hppn.pl.
  4. Web site: Orange Ekstraklasa 2005/2006. www.90minut.pl.
  5. Web site: Dziesięć lat temu GKS Bełchatów zaszokował piłkarską Polskę. November 9, 2016. Dziennik Łódzki.
  6. Web site: GKS Bełchatów wycofał się z rozgrywek 2 ligi. www.lodz.tvp.pl. pl.
  7. Web site: 2022-04-28 . Oficjalnie: GKS Bełchatów ogłosił upadłość . 2023-07-23 . weszlo.com . pl-PL.
  8. Web site: OFICJALNIE: GKS Bełchatów-reaktywacja. Klub zgłoszony do nowych rozgrywek . transfery.info . 24 June 2022 . Polish . 31 May 2022.
  9. Web site: Bełchatów. Kibice GKS utworzyli mural z podobizną papieża Jana Pawła II [ZDJĘCIA]]. Adam. Kieruzel. November 27, 2020. Bełchatów Nasze Miasto.
  10. Web site: GKS Bełchatów — zgody, układy, kosy, grupy, grill i inne..
  11. Web site: Artur Derbin trenerem GKS Bełchatów! . . 18 June 2024 . pl . 13 June 2024.