KP Unia Racibórz

Unia Racibórz is a football club from Racibórz, Silesia, Poland.

Unia Racibórz
Full nameUnia Racibórz sp. z o. o.
Founded27 April 1946; 78 years ago (1946-04-27)
GroundOSiR Stadium
Capacity10,000
ChairmanMarek Cyran
ManagerMirosław Pniewski
LeagueRegional league, Silesia III
2022–23IV liga Silesia II, 14th of 16 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website
colours

History

As part of a sports club

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

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

  • 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

Statistics

Highest division

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.

1963/64 - First league
No.ClubMatchesGoalsPoints
1Górnik Zabrze T2659–2440
2Zagłębie Sosnowiec 2655–4131
3Odra Opole 2642–3131
4Legia Warsaw2644–3631
5Polonia Bytom2640–3527
6Szombierki Bytom2645–4226
7Ruch Chorzów2634–3824
8Unia Racibórz2645–5124
9Gwardia Warsaw2635–4124
10ŁKS Łódź2627–3723
11Stal Rzeszów2632–4423
12Pogoń Szczecin2629–3621
13Wisła Kraków2629–4521
14Arkonia Szczecin2630–4518
1964/65 - First league
No.ClubMatchesGoalsPoints
1Górnik Zabrze T2661–3537
2Szombierki Bytom 2653–4432
3Zagłębie Sosnowiec 2657–3631
4Legia Warsaw2656–3130
5Polonia Bytom2648–3826
6Gwardia Warsaw2631–3026
7Ruch Chorzów2641–4126
8Zawisza Bydgoszcz2634–4124
9ŁKS Łódź2625–3224
10Odra Opole2626–3524
11Śląsk Wrocław2635–4624
12Stal Rzeszów2630–3523
13Pogoń Szczecin2631–4123
14Unia Racibórz2632–7514

League history

SeasonLeaguePositionComments
1958II liga4southern group
19592
19603northern group
19615
19624group A
19632Promoted
1963–64I liga8Highest finish in club history
1964–6514Relegated
1965–66II liga3
1966–674
1967–685
1968–694
1969–707
1970–7113Relegated
1998–99Regional league (Katowice III)10
1999–20001Promoted
2000–01IV liga (Silesia II)4
2001–027
2002–036
2003–048
2004–0511
2005–0616Relegated
2006–07Regional league league (Katowice III)1Promoted
2007–08IV liga (Silesia II)11Relegated
2008–09IV liga (Silesia II)11
2009–1012
2010–1112
2011–1214
2012–1314
2013–1413
2014–159
2015–1611
2016–177
2017–1811
2018–1914Relegated
2019–20Regional league (Silesia III)7
2020–013
2021–221Promoted
2022–23IV liga (Silesia II)14Relegated

References