Young Leaders Rally Cup Explained

Founded:1 April 1952
Abolished:21 July 1952
Number Of Teams:12
Most Successful Club:Wawel Kraków (1 title)

The Cup of the Rally of Young Leaders (also called the Young Leaders Rally Cup and the Cup of the Polish Youth Union) (Polish: '''Puchar Zlotu Młodych Przodowników''') was the first League Cup in Polish football. The tournament was created by the then president of the Polish Football Association with all 12 teams of the I liga being involved. Due to the league being delayed until after the 1952 Summer Olympics the tournament provided the players a chance to show off their skills with a chance of being called up into the Olympic squad. The tournament took place in Warsaw with the 12 teams being split into 2 groups of 6, with teams in each group playing each other twice. The tournament took its name from the youth rally that was taking place in the city from 20 to 22 July 1952.[1] [2]

The final took place on 20 July 1952 in the Polish Army Stadium. The final was between the winners of each group, Wawel Kraków and Cracovia, with Wawel winning the final.[3] [4] [5] There were also playoffs for the 3rd and 5th places.

Group stage

Group 1

Pos.ClubPlayedPtsGFGANotes
1Wawel Kraków1019377 To play Cracovia in the final
2Wisła Kraków10111712To play AKS Chorzów in the 3rd place playoff
3Lechia Gdańsk10111314To play Lech Poznań in the 5th place playoff
4Polonia Warsaw1091916Knocked out
5Polonia Bytom1051025
6Polonia Bytom105527

Group 2

Pos.ClubPlayedPtsGFGANotes
1Cracovia10162214To play Wawel Kraków in the final
2AKS Chorzów1014209To play Wisła Kraków in the 3rd place playoff
3Lech Poznań10122216To play Lechia Gdańsk in the 5th place playoff
4Legia Warsaw10101918Knocked out
5Górnik Radlin1071116
6ŁKS Łódź101930

Finals stage

All finals took place in the Polish Army Stadium on 20 July 1952.

Fifth place playoff

Lech Poznań vs Lechia Gdańsk – 2:1 (2:1)

Third place playoff

Wisła Kraków vs AKS Chorzów – 2:1 (1:1)

Final

Final standings

1st: Wawel Kraków
2nd: Cracovia
3rd: Wisła Kraków
4th: AKS Chorzów
5th: Lech Poznań
6th: Lechia Gdańsk

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1952. poloniabytom.com.pl.
  2. Web site: Odkrywamy karty historii - rok 1952. lechia.net.
  3. Web site: Cracovia w pogoni za marzeniami. m.gpcodziennie.pl.
  4. Web site: Wawel Kraków. 90minut.pl.
  5. Web site: Puchar niemile widziany. watch-esa.pl.