Polish Football League 1927-1939
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[edit] Beginnings
In the years 1921 - 1926, the football championships were organized in a non-league way. Firstly, there were regional games, then 9 champions of those regions were divided into 3 groups - western, southern and northern (with 3 teams in each) and finally, there were champions of these groups playing each other in the big finale.
However, this was not practical and some time in early 1927, representatives of several Polish clubs decided to follow other European countries (with the exception of Germany) and organize the all-national Polish Football League. This proposal was strongly opposed by PZPN (Polish Football Association) and by one of strongest football organizations of the country - Cracovia Krakow, whose director was also the director of PZPN.
[edit] First season - 1927
Nevertheless, even without PZPN’s support, the teams decided to go on with their idea. The League was officially formed on March 1, 1927 and on April 3, 1927 first games of the 14-team League took place. Originally, a spot in it was reserved for Cracovia, but after its refusal, it was given to Jutrzenka Krakow. The first, historic champion of the League became Wisla Krakow, but only after a fierce competition with a German-minority team 1. FC Katowice. Relegated was only one team, this was Jutrzenka.
On December 18, 1927, PZPN post factum officially announced that champion of the League was champion of Poland, and this automatically ended the conflict. It also meant that Cracovia would enter the League.
This is the list of teams which in November 1927 finished the games (notice: in interbellum Poland, games of the League were held in spring-autumn order):
1. Wisla Krakow.
2. 1. FC Katowice.
3. Warta Poznan.
4. Pogon Lwow.
5. Legia Warszawa.
6. Klub Turystow Lodz.
7. LKS Lodz.
8. Polonia Warszawa.
9. Czarni Lwow.
10. TKS Torun.
11. Hasmonea Lwow.
12. Ruch Chorzow.
RELEGATED:
14. Jutrzenka Krakow.
[edit] Games of the late 1920s
[edit] 1928
After the 1927 season, Jutrzenka Krakow was relegated and Slask Swietochlowice won promotion, but since Cracovia came to terms with the League, this renowned team was automatically added. As a result, there was an unusual situation, with 15 teams on the League. Wisla Krakow again turned out to be the best, with Warta Poznan finishing on the second position. Relegated were 3 teams - Hasmonea Lwow, Slask Swietochlowice, and TKS Torun.
This is the final table:
1. Wisla Krakow.
2. Warta Poznan.
3. Legia Warszawa.
4. Cracovia Krakow (newcomer).
5. 1. FC Katowice.
6. Pogon Lwow.
7. Polonia Warszawa.
8. Czarni Lwow.
9. Klub Turystow Lodz.
11. LKS Lodz.
12. Ruch Chorzow.
RELEGATED:
13. Hasmonea Lwow.
14. Slask Swietochlowice (newcomer).
15. TKS Torun.
[edit] 1929
Three sides were relegated and one (Garbarnia Kraków) promoted, which again meant uneven number of teams - 13. Garbarnia was a sensation of the 1929 season, becoming the winner. However, in December 1929, after the games had been finished, PZPN changed the result of the Klub Turystow Lodz - Warta Poznan match. Originally, Lodz’s side won 2-1, however it was verified as 0-3 in favor of Warta, as reportedly, the scorer of Klub Turystow’s both goals was not permitted to have appeared on the field. This controversial decision added two points to Warta and deprived Garbarnia of the championship. Also, Klub Turystow was demoted, together with 1. FC Katowice.
This is the final table:
1. Warta Poznan.
2. Garbarnia Kraków (newcomer).
3. Wisla Krakow.
4. Legia Warszawa.
5. LKS Lodz.
6. Cracovia Krakow.
7. Polonia Warszawa.
9. Pogon Lwow.
10. Ruch Chorzow.
11. Czarni Lwow.
RELEGATED:
12. 1. FC Katowice.
13. Klub Turystow Lodz.
[edit] 1930
After nine years, the first, historic champion of Poland, Cracovia Krakow, regained the title. Its main rival, Wisla Krakow, finished with just point less, and Legia Warszawa was third. As the League consisted of even (12) number of teams, only one team was demoted. It was LTS-G Lodz, which had spent in the League only one year.
This is the final table:
1. Cracovia Krakow.
2. Wisla Krakow.
3. Legia Warszawa.
4. Polonia Warszawa.
5. Warta Poznan.
6. Garbarnia Kraków.
7. Pogon Lwow.
8. Ruch Chorzow.
9. Czarni Lwow.
10. LKS Lodz.
RELEGATED:
12. LTS-G Lodz (newcomer).
[edit] Games of the early 1930s
[edit] 1931
Finally, Garbarnia Kraków won the championships, this time without any doubts. Again, Wisla Krakow finished on the second position, and once more - just a point less. Also, Legia Warszawa for another time was third, demoted was a newcomer = Lechia Lwow.
This is the final table:
1. Garbarnia Kraków.
2. Wisla Krakow.
3. Legia Warszawa.
4. Pogon Lwow.
5. Ruch Chorzow.
6. LKS Lodz.
7. Warta Poznan.
8. Polonia Warszawa.
9. Cracovia Krakow.
10. Czarni Lwow.
RELEGATED:
12. Lechia Lwow (newcomer).
[edit] 1932
Cracovia Krakow again returned to the top, just ahead of another renowned team, Pogon Lwow. Third was Warta Poznan and Polonia Warszawa was demoted. The newcomer - Strzelec Siedlce, finished on the 9th position.
This is the final table:
1. Cracovia Krakow.
2. Pogon Lwow.
3. Warta Poznan.
4. LKS Lodz.
5. Legia Warszawa.
6. Wisla Krakow.
7. Ruch Chorzow.
9. Strzelec Siedlce (newcomer).
10. Garbarnia Kraków.
11. Czarni Lwow.
RELEGATED
12. Polonia Warszawa.
[edit] 1933
In this season, PZPN decided to divide the League into two groups - Eastern and Western each of them consisted of 6 teams. Interesting is the fact that in Western group there were as many as 4 teams from Kraków. For the first time the League was won by Ruch Chorzow.
Group East:
1. Pogon Lwow.
2. Legia Warszawa.
3. LKS Lodz.
4. Czarni Lwow.
6. Strzelec Siedlce.
Group West:
1. Cracovia Krakow.
2. Ruch Chorzow.
3. Wisla Krakow.
4. Garbarnia Kraków.
5. Warta Poznan.
6. Podgórze Kraków (newcomer).
First three teams in both groups were promoted to the Champions Group, last three went to the Relegation Group. These are the final tables:
Champions Group - final table
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Pogon Lwow.
3. Wisla Krakow.
5. LKS Lodz.
6. Legia Warszawa.
Relegation Group - final table
2. Strzelec Siedlce.
3. Warta Poznan.
4. Podgorze Kraków.
RELEGATED:
5. Czarni Lwow.
6. Garbarnia Kraków.
[edit] 1934
The League returned to its original form, with one group, covering the whole country. Ruch Chorzow again proved its quality, winning the games, Cracovia was second. The newcomer, Polonia Warszawa, finished ninth. Second newcomer, Garbarnia Kraków, won a special tournament, thus saving its spot in the League.
This is the final table:
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Cracovia Krakow.
3. Wisla Krakow.
4. Garbarnia Kraków (newcomer).
5. Legia Warszawa.
6. Pogon Lwow.
7. Warta Poznan.
8. LKS Lodz.
9. Polonia Warszawa (newcomer).
RELEGATED:
11. Podgórze Krakow.
12. Strzelec Siedlce.
[edit] 1935
For the third time in a row, Ruch Chorzow became the Champion. Pogon Lwow finished second, and the newcomer, Slask Swietochlowice, was fifth. Sensational was relegation of one of the most renowned teams of Polish football, Cracovia Krakow.
This is the final table:
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Pogon Lwow.
3. Warta Poznan.
4. Wisla Krakow.
5. Slask Swietochlowice (newcomer).
6. LKS Lodz.
7. Garbarnia Kraków.
9. Legia Warszawa.
RELEGATED:
10. Cracovia Krakow.
11. Polonia Warszawa.
[edit] Games of the late 1930s
[edit] 1936
Ruch Chorzow is still dominating, again winning the League. Second was Wisla Krakow, third - Warta Poznan. The newcomer, Dab Katowice, was eight. Starting in this year, the League shrank to ten teams and this remained until the outbreak of World War II. Relegated were Slask Swietochlowice and Legia Warszawa.
This is the final table:
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Wisla Krakow.
3. Warta Poznan.
4. Garbarnia Kraków.
6. Pogon Lwow.
7. LKS Lodz.
8. Dab Katowice (newcomer).
RELEGATED:
10. Legia Warszawa.
[edit] 1937
This year was sensational, as two newcomers became champion and vice-champion. Cracovia Krakow marked its return by winning the League, second was AKS Chorzow. Relegated were Garbarnia Kraków and Dab Katowice.
This is the final table:
1. Cracovia Krakow (newcomer).
2. AKS Chorzow (newcomer).
3. Ruch Chorzow.
4. Warta Poznan.
5. Wisla Krakow.
6. Pogon Lwow.
8. LKS Lodz.
RELEGATED:
9. Garbarnia Kraków.
10. Dab Katowice.
[edit] 1938
This time, Ruch Chorzow returned, winning the games, ahead of Warta Poznan and Wisla Krakow. One newcomer, Smigly Wilno, was relegated, another - Polonia Warszawa, was fourth.
This is the final table:
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Warta Poznan.
3. Wisla Krakow.
4. Polonia Warszawa (newcomer).
5. Pogon Lwow.
6. AKS Chorzow.
7. Cracovia Krakow.
RELEGATED:
9. LKS Lodz.
10. Smigly Wilno (newcomer).
[edit] 1939
Games of this season were not finished, due to the outbreak of World War II. On August 31, 1939, Ruch Chorzow was first, second was Wisla Krakow, with two games less. Newcomers - Garbarnia Kraków and Union Touring Łódź were respectively eight and tenth.
This is the final table:
1. Ruch Chorzow.
2. Wisla Krakow.
3. Pogon Lwow.
4. AKS Chorzow.
5. Warta Poznan.
6. Cracovia Krakow.
7. Polonia Warszawa.
8. Garbarnia Kraków.
10. Union Touring Łódź.
