 | |||
| Full name | Klub Sportowy Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Dyskobole (The Discoboli) | ||
| Founded | 30 April 1922; 103 years ago (1922-04-30) | ||
| Dissolved | December 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12)[1] | ||
| Ground | Stadion Dyskobolii Grodzisk Wielkopolski | ||
| Capacity | 6,800[2] | ||
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski (Polish pronunciation:[dɨskɔˈbɔljaˈɡrɔdʑizɡvʲɛlkɔˈpɔlskʲi]), previouslyGroclin Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski,[3] was a Polishfootball club based inGrodzisk Wielkopolski,Greater Poland Voivodeship.
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski was founded on 30 April 1922. Its logo shows theDiscobolus.
DuringWorld War II, Stanisław Zdzisław Kozłowski, co-founder of the club, was among Poles murdered by the Russians in the largeKatyn massacre in April–May 1940.[4]
After several decades in lower league football, the club was taken over in the mid-1990s by Zbigniew Drzymała, president of the Inter Groclin Auto company, and enjoyed an instant string of promotions culminating in the promotion to top level football in 1997.
Not having its own youth backbone, the club was dependent on players predominantly over 30 years of age, mostly with former league experience. After performing reasonably in the autumn period of the 1997–98 season, they experienced a sudden drop in form, resulting in relegation. However, within a year, Dyskobolia was able to return to the top flight, winning theI liga. Although now having many younger and more success-hungry players in the squad, the club performed disastrously in the autumn of 1999, garnering just five points from fifteen games. An unexpected (and some say suspicious)[by whom?] form increase in the spring resulted in eight victories in a row, which was more than enough to fight off relegation. The club remained in the top flight, enjoying second place honors on two occasions (2003 and 2005). Managers have includedDusan Radolsky, and Andrzej Janeczek. The first runner-up title made them eligible to play in theUEFA Cup, in which they eliminatedHertha BSC andManchester City (with three goals in four games) before falling toGirondins Bordeaux. Their second UEFA Cup run was less successful, resulting in a first round exit againstRC Lens.
Dyskobolia was the original winner of the2004–05 Polish Cup. By the resolution of the PZPN management board of 2 September 2020, the team was deprived of this title in connection with proven cases of match-fixing.[5] In July 2008, Dyskobolia announced its intention to merge withPolonia Warsaw,[6] after the expected merger withŚląsk Wrocław fell through.[7] Polonia replaced Dyskobolia in theEkstraklasa while the new Dyskobolia team joined theIV liga, the fifth tier of the Polish league pyramid.
In the 2015–16 season, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski played in theregional league (klasa okręgowa), but withdrew after the autumn round.[1] In the following seasons, a team calledNasza Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski started to play at the lower levels, referring to the club's tradition.[8]
The club colours were green and white.
Dyskobolia, although no longer attracted as many fans as in thesecond division andEkstraklasa years, possessed a small but loyal group ofactive supporters calledSzczuny z Landu.
The fans had two fan-clubs outside their home town, inRakoniewice andKąkolewo, and the fans had a strong friendship with fans ofGórnik Łęczyca.
Back in the top flight they competed in theGreater Poland Derby againstLech Poznań andAmica Wronki. The latter were widely considered to be their greatest rivals, a rivalry which has been renewed since the Amica'sphoenix-predecessor clubBłękitni Wronki has been re-established in 2007, the two frequently playing in the same division.
Internationally capped players
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Intertoto Cup | 1R |  | Spartak Varna | 1–0, 0–4 |
| 2003–04 | UEFA Cup | Q |  | Atlantas | 2–0, 4–1 |
| 1R |  | Hertha | 0–0, 1–0 | ||
| 2R |  | Manchester City | 1–1, 0–0 | ||
| 3R |  | Girondins de Bordeaux | 0–1, 1–4 | ||
| 2005–06 | UEFA Cup | 2Q |  | Dukla Banská Bystrica | 4–1, 0–0 |
| 1R | | Lens | 1–1, 2–4 | ||
| 2007–08 | UEFA Cup | 1Q |  | Araz Imisli | 0–0, 1–0 |
| 2Q |  | Tobol Kostanay | 1–0, 2–0 | ||
| 1R |  | Crvena Zvezda | 0–1, 0–1 |
