Znicz Biała Piska is a Polish semi-professional[3] football club from Biała Piska, Pisz County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.

Znicz Biała Piska
Full nameMiejski Ludowy Klub Sportowy
Znicz Biała Piska
Short nameZnicz BP
Founded18 July 1954; 70 years ago (1954-07-18)[1]
StadiumMunicipal Stadium[2]
Capacity500[2]
OwnerJacek Jankowski[3]
ChairmanJacek Jankowski[4]
ManagerPrzemysław Łapiński[5]
LeagueIV liga Warmia-Masuria
2023–24IV liga Warmia-Masuria, 2nd of 16
Websitehttps://zniczbialapiska.pl

History

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The club was founded on 18 July 1954[1] as Ludowy Klub Sportowy Znicz Biała Piska, a local LZS club in the local leagues. [6]

In 1974, they ceased activity for four years, before resuming activity in 1978 as Międzyzakładowy Klub Sportowy Znicz Biała Piska,[6] becoming an unaffiliated works team. Despite some minor league successes,[6] by 1996 the club dissolved its senior team,[6] although continued to exist as a sports club focusing on youth development.[6]

Two mergers followed: with Orkan Drygały in 1999 creating Znicz/Orkan Biała Piska[6] restoring the senior team;[6] and with Płomień Ełk in 2000 creating Płomień/Znicz Biała Piska.[6]

Between 2000 and 2004, they played in the fourth division.[6][1] After relegation in 2004 the club suffered financial and organisational problems,[6] and changed its name to Miejski Ludowy Klub Sportowy Znicz Biała Piska.[6][1]

Their fortunes changed however, winning their division in 2011[6] and a further promotion in 2013 reaching their highest league hierarchy in their history.[6]

In 2018, they won their fifth division with a 30-point lead.[6] Subsequently, in the next two seasons, 2018–19 and 2019–20, the reached the finals of the Warmian-Mazurian Polish Cup, but lost both finals.[6][3]

Scouting network

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Due to the club's remote location and the town's small population,[3] the club has a wide catchment area in order to remain competitive, attract a good calibre of players and keep its youth teams in full squad.[3] Players are recruited regularly from Białystok, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Ełk and Pisz.[3]

Rivalries

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Znicz has local derbies against GKS Wikielec[7][8][9] and Mamry Giżycko.[10]

Honours

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  • IV liga Warmia-Masuria
    • Champions: 2017–18
    • Runners-up: 2012–13
  • Regional league
    • Champions: 2010–11
  • Klasa A
    • Champions: 1984–85, 2007–08
  • Polish Cup (Warmia-Masuria regionals)
    • Runners-up: 2018–19, 2019–20
    • Semi-finals: 2012–13
    • Quarter-finals: 2017–18, 2020–21

Notable players

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Notable professional players who played for the club include Oskar Fürst, Vasili Sumnakaev, Artsyom Huzik, Jacek Falkowski, and Vasily Zhurnevich.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Znicz Biała Piska", 90minut.pl (in Polish)
  2. ^ a b "Stadion", zniczbialapiska.pl (in Polish)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Paweł Stankiewicz (10 August 2020), "Regionalny Puchar Polski. Futbol rozwija się w Białej Piskiej. Czy Znicz chce iść śladami Niecieczy?", gol24.pl (in Polish), Gol24
  4. ^ "Zarząd", zniczbialapiska.pl (in Polish), Znicz Biała Piska
  5. ^ "Sztab Szkoleniowy", zniczbialapiska.pl (in Polish), Znicz Biała Piska
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Historia", zniczbialapiska.pl (in Polish), Znicz Biała Piska
  7. ^ "Znicz Biała Piska zagra z GKS-em Wikielec", dwadozera.pl (in Polish), Dwa do zera, 3 September 2021
  8. ^ K. Piasecka (3 September 2021), "Derby województwa w trzeciej lidze", radioolsztyn.pl (in Polish), Radio Olsztyn
  9. ^ "Znicz Biała Piska i derby? To nie jest dobra para", gazetaolsztynska.pl (in Polish), Gazeta Olsztynska, 3 September 2021
  10. ^ "Derby w Białej Piskiej", gazetaolsztynska.pl (in Polish), Gazeta Olsztynska, 13 August 2021

Bibliography

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  • Marek Łukiewski, ed. (2015), "Znicz Biała Piska", 70 lat Warmińsko-Mazurskiego Związku Piłki Nożnej (in Polish), Olsztyn: Wers, p. 256, ISBN 978-83-60488-57-7
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