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Warta Poznań
The sport club “Warta” was formed on 15 June 1912. The
founders – in addition to an instant association with the
name of the river flowing through Poznań – aimed to
evoke other connotations of the word “warta” (which
denotes guard duty in Polish). The side, founded under
the then German rule, was supposed to be a sportive
organisation which cultivated and “stood on guard” of
the Polish national identity. In the interwar period, the
team won the Polish Championship (1929), in the years
1922, 1925, 1928 and 1938 finished as runner-ups.
The list of core players who played for the Polish national
team at the same time included: Marian Spojda – slain
in the Katyn massacre, Wawrzyn Staliński – participant
of the Olympic Games in Paris, Marian Fontowicz –
participant of the Olympic Games in Berlin. Fryderyk
Scherfke was the outstanding striker (scored 131 goals).
He participated in the Olympic Games in Berlin. Under
Nazi occupation, the footballers continued their activity;
in Poznań – as “Wilda” team and in POW camps in
Woldenberg and Gross Born – under the name of KS
“Warta” (SC Warta). On 18 March 1945 the Club was
reactivated. Next year, the team took the Vice-Champion
title. The following years witnessed the development
of a dynamic multi-section club located near Hipolit
Cegielski factory and extension of facilities, including
a 60-thousand capacity stadium.
For many years the Greens have entered games with
changing fortunes, playing in the Polish top, second
or third league by turns. The team has produced such
famous footballers as: Maciej Żurawski, Grzegorz Rasiak,
Krzysztof Ratajczyk, Arkadiusz Onyszko, Arkadiusz
Kaliszan, Tomasz Iwan and Tomasz Magdziarz – the
team captain for the last 10 years. The side attracted well
known football coaches – not only from Poland - Gyula
Biro, Bela Furst, Karol Vogl and managers and head
coaches of the Polish national team: Kazimierz Śmiglak,
Antoni Brzeżańczyk, Tadeusz Foryś and Michał Matyas.
Whereas the Club, which celebrated its centenary
in 2012, has seen a lot of wonderful moments, it has
also weathered difficult times of wars and political
transitions. Warta Poznań has produced champions
and World and Europe record holders, dozens of
Olympic athletes, hundreds of champions of Poland.
It established a valuable and laudable tradition. There
are but few football clubs in Poland which may boast
such an outstanding history.
Zbigniew Śmiglak
Former footballer,
Director of SC “Warta Poznań”