Unia Racibórz is a football club from Racibórz, Silesia, Poland.
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| Full name | Unia Racibórz sp. z o. o. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 27 April 1946 | ||
| Ground | OSiR Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||
| Chairman | Marek Cyran | ||
| Manager | Mirosław Pniewski | ||
| League | Regional league, Silesia III | ||
| 2022–23 | IV liga Silesia II, 14th of 16 (relegated) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
| |||
History edit
As part of a sports club edit
Unia Racibórz was founded on 27 April 1946 as a men's team. Its initial name was Klub Sportowy Plania Racibórz. The club has undergone several name changes. From June 1949 to November 1949 it was named ZKS Chemik Racibórz, then it was called ZKS Unia Racibórz (until 18 March 1957), and KS Unia Racibórz up to the 1997–98 season before adopting the name RTP Unia Racibórz.[1] Until 2001, the year the women started training, the club had only a men's football team. The women's team was registered for league play in the 2002–03 season.
In January 2008, after discrepancies over the use of finances, the men's section split from RTP Unia and took the name KP Unia Racibórz.[2] Thus RTP Unia Racibórz became exclusively a women's football club.
As a section and independent club edit
Men's team of Unia Racibórz won in 1957 regional competition of Opole Silesia, and qualified for the Second Division playoffs. After beating Victoria Częstochowa, Wawel Wirek and Lublinianka, Unia won promotion to the 1958 Second Division, which at that time was the second level of Polish football system, consisting of 24 teams, divided into two groups, North and South. In its first Second Division season, Unia was 4th in Group South, behind Górnik Radlin, Szombierki Bytom and Stal Mielec. Unia was twice U-19 Champion of Poland, in 1954 and 1956. Based on this very talented generation of young players, in 1959 Unia was very close to the promotion to the Ekstraklasa, finishing the season in the 2nd spot of Group South of the Second Division, one point behind Zagłębie Sosnowiec.
In 1960, Unia was moved to Group North of the Second Division, finishing the season in the third spot, behind Lech Poznań and Zawisza Bydgoszcz. For the 1961 season, one group of the Second Division was formed, with 18 teams. Unia finished in the 5th position, with Gwardia Warszawa as the champion of the Polish second level. In 1962, after another change, Unia was 4th in Group A of the Second Division. Finally, in 1963, Unia won promotion to the elite Ekstraklasa, finishing as the second team of the national Second Division, four points behind Szombierki Bytom, and one point above Raków Częstochowa.
Unia spent only two seasons in the Ekstraklasa. In 1963/64, it was ranked 8th out of 14 teams and in 1964/65 it was the last team of the league, with only 14 points and a goal difference of 32–75. After relegation, Unia was third in the 1965/66 season of the Second Division, behind Cracovia and Pogoń Szczecin. In 1966/67, it was the fourth team of the Second Division, and in 1967/68, fifth. In 1968/69 Unia again was the fourth team of the Second Division, and in 1969/70, seventh. Finally, in 1970/71, Unia was relegated to the third level, never to return.
The men's team of Unia Racibórz currently plays in the Silesia II group of the regional league, the sixth level of the Polish association football system.
The men's football team of Unia Racibórz were also the U-19 Champion of Poland twice (1954 and 1956).
Club names edit
- 27 April 1946 - Klub Sportowy Plania Racibórz
- June 1949 - ZKS Chemik Racibórz
- November 1949 - ZKS Unia Racibórz
- 18 March 1957 - Unia Racibórz Sports Club
- 1997 - RTP Unia Racibórz
- 2008 - Klub Piłkarski Unia Racibórz
- unknown - Klub Sportowy Unia Racibórz
- 2022 - Unia Racibórz sp. z o.o.
Honours edit
- 8th in the Ekstraklasa: 1963–64
- Polish Cup semi-finalists: 1956–57
- Polish U-19 champions: 1954, 1956
- Polish U-19 third place: 1958
Statistics edit
Highest division edit
The club's historic achievement is eighth place in the season 1963-64 season in the first division. It was the first season at the highest league level. In the season 1964-65, Unia finished last and were relegated.
| No. | Club | Matches | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Górnik Zabrze T | 26 | 59–24 | 40 |
| 2 | Zagłębie Sosnowiec 
|
26 | 55–41 | 31 |
| 3 | Odra Opole 
|
26 | 42–31 | 31 |
| 4 | Legia Warsaw | 26 | 44–36 | 31 |
| 5 | Polonia Bytom | 26 | 40–35 | 27 |
| 6 | Szombierki Bytom | 26 | 45–42 | 26 |
| 7 | Ruch Chorzów | 26 | 34–38 | 24 |
| 8 | Unia Racibórz | 26 | 45–51 | 24 |
| 9 | Gwardia Warsaw | 26 | 35–41 | 24 |
| 10 | ŁKS Łódź | 26 | 27–37 | 23 |
| 11 | Stal Rzeszów | 26 | 32–44 | 23 |
| 12 | Pogoń Szczecin | 26 | 29–36 | 21 |
| 13 | Wisła Kraków | 26 | 29–45 | 21 |
| 14 | Arkonia Szczecin | 26 | 30–45 | 18 |
| No. | Club | Matches | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Górnik Zabrze T | 26 | 61–35 | 37 |
| 2 | Szombierki Bytom
|
26 | 53–44 | 32 |
| 3 | Zagłębie Sosnowiec
|
26 | 57–36 | 31 |
| 4 | Legia Warsaw | 26 | 56–31 | 30 |
| 5 | Polonia Bytom | 26 | 48–38 | 26 |
| 6 | Gwardia Warsaw | 26 | 31–30 | 26 |
| 7 | Ruch Chorzów | 26 | 41–41 | 26 |
| 8 | Zawisza Bydgoszcz | 26 | 34–41 | 24 |
| 9 | ŁKS Łódź | 26 | 25–32 | 24 |
| 10 | Odra Opole | 26 | 26–35 | 24 |
| 11 | Śląsk Wrocław | 26 | 35–46 | 24 |
| 12 | Stal Rzeszów | 26 | 30–35 | 23 |
| 13 | Pogoń Szczecin | 26 | 31–41 | 23 |
| 14 | Unia Racibórz | 26 | 32–75 | 14 |
League history edit
| Season | League | Position | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | II liga | 4 | southern group |
| 1959 | 2 | ||
| 1960 | 3 | northern group | |
| 1961 | 5 | ||
| 1962 | 4 | group A | |
| 1963 | 2 | Promoted | |
| 1963–64 | I liga | 8 | Highest finish in club history |
| 1964–65 | 14 | Relegated | |
| 1965–66 | II liga | 3 | |
| 1966–67 | 4 | ||
| 1967–68 | 5 | ||
| 1968–69 | 4 | ||
| 1969–70 | 7 | ||
| 1970–71 | 13 | Relegated | |
| 1998–99 | Regional league (Katowice III) | 10 | |
| 1999–2000 | 1 | Promoted | |
| 2000–01 | IV liga (Silesia II) | 4 | |
| 2001–02 | 7 | ||
| 2002–03 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 | 11 | ||
| 2005–06 | 16 | Relegated | |
| 2006–07 | Regional league league (Katowice III) | 1 | Promoted |
| 2007–08 | IV liga (Silesia II) | 11 | Relegated |
| 2008–09 | IV liga (Silesia II) | 11 | |
| 2009–10 | 12 | ||
| 2010–11 | 12 | ||
| 2011–12 | 14 | ||
| 2012–13 | 14 | ||
| 2013–14 | 13 | ||
| 2014–15 | 9 | ||
| 2015–16 | 11 | ||
| 2016–17 | 7 | ||
| 2017–18 | 11 | ||
| 2018–19 | 14 | Relegated | |
| 2019–20 | Regional league (Silesia III) | 7 | |
| 2020–01 | 3 | ||
| 2021–22 | 1 | Promoted | |
| 2022–23 | IV liga (Silesia II) | 14 | Relegated |