Poland II Division

Football was probably not in the Polish agenda, since the country was preoccupied with political and economic crisis, but the championships went on. Nothing much to talk about… except that teams perhaps were not great, but fairly equal. If anything, the championships were decided in the last moment and by the tiniest margins. Second Division naturally was out of foreign interest altogether. The teams there were a mix: some former first division members, smaller second and third clubs of some cities, and insignificant clubs from smaller cities.

Piast (Gliwice) was 7th in Group 1 of Second Division. Perhaps today the name rings a bell, but not in the 1980s.

Stilon (Gorzow) ended 3rd – they are still unknown outside Poland.

BKS Bielsko, another unheard of club, finished 2nd with 40 points. They came very close to surprise promotion, but better known team bested them by a point.

GKS Katowice won Group 1 with 41 points. They were promoted, which was great – the club was still trying to reach and somehow establish itself in the top league.

In Group 2 the battle was equally fierce, if not great.

Błękitni Kielce finished 4th – another never heard of club, which is now quite well known. Under different name, though.

Polonia Bytom took the 2nd place with 38 points.

Cracovia Krakow won Group 2 with 40 points. One of the old Polish clubs, which faded away with time – by now, Cracovia was the second and smaller club of Krakow, quite insignificant compared to Wisla. But they managed to win promotion and may be some kind of revival was in the cards. Whether revival was happening… only the future could tell.