Wkra Żuromin

For the river flowing through Żuromin, see Wkra.
MKS Wkra Żuromin
Full nameMiejski Klub Sportowy Wkra Żuromin
Founded20 October 1968; 56 years ago (1968-10-20)
GroundMunicipal Stadium
Capacity2,000
ChairmanWojciech Rochna
ManagerTomasz Szmit
LeagueV liga Masovia I
2023–24Regional league Ciechanów-Ostrołęka, 1st of 16 (promoted)
WebsiteWkra Żuromin on Facebook
colours

Wkra Żuromin is a football club based in the town of Żuromin, Mazovia, Poland. As of the 2024–25 season, they compete in the V liga Masovia, the sixth level of the Polish league pyramid, after earning promotion from the regional league in 2024.[1]

History

The club was founded on the 20 October 1968 as Ludowy Klub Sportowy Wkra Żuromin. Following a sponsorship deal in 1991 with the disco polo label Omega Music, the club changed its name to KS Wkra Omega Żuromin. Since 2001, the club has played under its current name.[2]

Since its inception, a youth team from Wkra Żuromin have regularly competed in the Piłkarska Kadra Czeka tournament organised by the Ludowe Zespoły Sportowe union. The club reached the quarter finals of the competition in 2012 and 2021.[3][4]

In 2021, Wkra Żuromin received government funding amounting to 50,000 PLN in order to foster the development of sports in Żuromin County.[5]

After having been relegated to the Liga okręgowa at the close of the 2022–23 campaign, Wkra Żuromin immediately regained promotion back into the V liga Masovia the following season. Having gained 77 points, scoring 126 goals over the course of the season, the team beat their opponents by 31 goals in their final game.[6]

Ground

The club play at the Żuromin Municipal Stadium.[7] In 2019 the ground was renovated as part of a Ministry of Sport and Tourism initiative, training pitches were created, a new irrigation system installed, and the stands were replaced.[5]

Municipal Stadium in Żuromin

Supporters

Fans of the team have been notable amongst Polish clubs for their vocal anti-fascism.[8] Because of their political stance and active support of the "Never Again" Association, supporters of Wkra Żuromin have been the target of violence from far-right fans of opposing clubs.[9][10]

Notable former players

Łukasz Teodorczyk began his career at Wkra Żuromin[11] and is now an ambassador for the club.[12] Whilst playing for Lech Poznań, in 2014, disgruntled fans of the club displayed a banner referencing Wkra Żuromin in criticism of Teodorczyk.[13] In 2014 Teodorczyk left Lech on a transfer to Dynamo Kiev. In accordance with FIFA regulations Dynamo were required to pay Wkra Żuromin 2.5% of his transfer fee but failed to do so, with the matter going to arbitration.[14][15] The dispute was finally settled in 2016 with Wkra Żuromin receiving an undisclosed amount from Dynamo Kiev.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Dalubo Liga okręgowa 2023/2024, grupa: Ciechanów-Ostrołęka". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ^ "O klubie". mkswkrazuromin.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ Osiecki, Michał (3 August 2012). "Piłka nożna. Wkra szóstą drużyną w Polsce". Kurier Żuromiński (in Polish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Wkra szósta w Polsce". Kurier Żuromiński (in Polish). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Sportowy Żuromin". zuromin.info (in Polish). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  6. ^ Smoliński, Rafał (22 June 2024). "2:31. Niebywały wynik w polskiej lidze". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Żuromin – Stadion Miejski". Polskie Stadiony (in Polish). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  8. ^ Pankowski, R (2003). Breaking the Silence: Using Popular Culture to Engage Young People in Human Rights Reporting. Center for Victims of Torture. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  9. ^ Tatar, Anna. ""Lets Kick Racism Out of Stadiums" Campaign: Monitoring of Racism and Chavinism Symptoms on Polish Football Stadiums" (PDF). Nigdy Wiecej. p. 2. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  10. ^ Klymenko, Pavel; Kornak, Marcin. "Hateful: Monitoring Racism, Discrimination and Hate Crime in Polish and Ukrainian Football 2009-2011" (PDF). Sport and Dev. East Europe Monitoring Centre. p. 12. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Teo Zakończył Karierę". Kurier Żuromiński (in Polish). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Ambasador: ŁUKASZ TEODORCZYK". Wkra Żuromin (in Polish). WebArchive. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Na stadionie: Dobre fury i wypłaty, na boisku zwykłe szmaty". KKS Lech (in Polish). 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  14. ^ Wojnarowski, Grzegorz. "Dynamo Kijów nie płaci Wkrze, sprawa Łukasza Teodorczyka trafi do FIFA". SportoweFakty (in Polish). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  15. ^ Zaremba, Maciej (29 March 2016). "Wkra składa skargę na Dynamo Kijów do FIFA". Kurier Żuromiński (in Polish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  16. ^ Czerwiński, Kacper (16 December 2016). "Żuromin. Dochodowy Teodorczyk". Kurier Żuromiński (in Polish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.