Wisła Kraków wins the Retro Match!

On Saturday, November 16, 2024, an extraordinary match took place. Kraków had never seen such a spectacle before: Wisła defeated Pogoń Lwów 2-0 in the Retro Match, avenging a loss from 100 years ago. The team was cheered on by… Marshal Józef Piłsudski!

At exactly 1:00 PM, the Retro Match kicked off on the TS Wisła training pitch. The event was initiated by the Wisła History Association, which decided to recreate the 1924 match between the White Star and Pogoń Lwów. What is this football reenactment? The players wore faithful replicas of pre-war kits – from boots, socks, shorts, and jerseys. The game was also played with balls made in the style of vintage footballs and in accordance with the regulations in force at the time. The Wisła team was played by members of Socios, who normally play in the Sixes Football League – and they were additionally supported by members of the Wisła History Association and two White Star legends: Paweł Brożek and Arkadiusz Głowacki. The Pogoń team was recreated by old-time football enthusiasts from Żarów, members of the Retro Liga Association.

The opening minutes were spent with both teams cautiously probing each other's options. Before the action could truly unfold, the match was interrupted in the ninth minute. Just like a century ago, Marshal Józef Piłsudski (this time played by Jerzy Fedorowicz) arrived on the pitch. Both teams lined up, and Piłsudski shook hands with each player before taking his seat in the stands. Play continued, but the first half was scoreless. Pogoń Lwów, with its experience in Retro Matches, held a slight advantage. Wisła fought bravely, with Pogoń's attacks being broken up by our defense, while the offense attempted to threaten the visitors.

The goals didn't arrive until after the break. First, after a well-organized attack from their own goal, Wisła found a gap between the defenders and the Pogoń goalkeeper – Krzysztof Grudnik ran into position and lobbed the visiting goalkeeper. Three minutes later, Paweł Ciękosz unleashed a beautiful shot from just outside the penalty area. Despite several dangerous moves from Pogoń (notably, a dangerous long-range shot that hit the crossbar), the visitors were unable to break Grzegorz Antolak. Wisła, however, struggled to control the game, and the score remained unchanged.

Besides the match itself, the spectators—several hundred of whom gathered—could also admire other elements of the football reenactment. The "Illustrated Historical Courier" was also available, a special match newspaper. There was vintage music to brighten the break, and tea and pea soup were also served. Many spectators dressed in 1920s style, adding to the charm of the event. It's also worth noting that a documentary film was being made during the event! We'll have to wait and see what the final results are, but the footage promises to be exciting!

The Wisła Kraków vs. Pogoń Lwów retro match was a remarkable event that brought the Wisła community together. The initiative of the Wisła Historia Association (Historia Wisła) gained the support of numerous individuals and organizations. TS Wisła provided the pitch, and TS Wisła Kraków SA provided organizational and communication support. The Socios Association became the main partner of the match – through the players portraying the Wisła players of 1924, but also through financial support. Members of the Wisła Biznes club also contributed, providing technical, marketing, and financial support, while individual fans donated numerous donations. All this allowed for the retro match to be realized with meticulous attention to detail.

Wisła Kraków - Pogoń Lwów (Żarów) 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: Krzysztof Grudnik and Paweł Ciękosz

Pogoń Lwów (Żarów): Rafał Włodarczyk, Sławomir Skorupski, Grzegorz Garbacz, Jan Kuzba, Dariusz Rudnik, Robert Kąkol, Jakub Garbacz, Daniel Zyl, Paweł Hanc, Grzegorz Chłopek, Mateusz Sobel, Maciej Smaruj, Wojciech Węglarz, Krystian Biedroń, Damian Humski. Coach: Marcin Wróbel. Manager: Arkadiusz Zdunik.

Wisła Kraków: Krzysztof Grudnik, Rafał Konop, Jacek Rollauer, Mikołaj Fischer, Sebastian Soból, Marcin Gajewski, Łukasz Kaczorowski, Piotr Sarota, Maciej Bałaziński, Kasper Bartczak, Marek Konieczny, Piotr Protasiewicz, Maciej Baraniak, Bartłomiej Gignal, Mateusz Mastalerz, Robert Janowiak, Wojciech Cianciara, Bartosz Paleta, Jakub Zalotyński, Grzegorz Antolak, Paweł Ciękosz, Konrad Nowakowicz, Paweł Brożek, Arkadiusz Głowacki. Coach: Krzysztof Heretyk