Second tier Ruch Chorzów have recorded Polish football’s biggest attendance of the century after selling out against fellow promotion chasers, Wisła Kraków.
Watched by 53,293, Saturday’s clash saw play halted several times after fans set off wave after wave of pyrotechnic devices. However, the raucous atmosphere failed to inspire the home side who crashed to a limp 5-0 defeat.
Despite the emphatic nature of the loss, there was no repeat of the crowd trouble that marred the same fixture in 2016—just months after that, hooligan factions from both clubs agreed to enter an alliance that survives to this day.
Today’s bumper crowd comfortably tops this century’s previous high, the 50,087 that watched Ruch play Widzew Łódź last season.
Despite the emphatic nature of the loss, there was no repeat of the crowd trouble that marred the same fixture in 2016—just months after that, hooligan factions from both clubs agreed to enter an alliance that survives to this day.
Today’s bumper crowd comfortably tops this century’s previous high, the 50,087 that watched Ruch play Widzew Łódź last season.
Though currently playing their football in the second flight, Ruch have traditionally been considered one of the powerhouses of the domestic game, winning the league title fourteen times and the Polish Cup on three occasions.
But as noble as Ruch’s pedigree undoubtedly is, the club currently find themselves living a gypsy existence after being forced from their traditional home.
But as noble as Ruch’s pedigree undoubtedly is, the club currently find themselves living a gypsy existence after being forced from their traditional home.
First running out at the Ruch Chorzów Stadium on Cicha Street in 1934, the club had no option but to pack their bags in 2023 after concerns were raised about the safety of the floodlights.
After initially lodging at Piast Gliwice, the club then signed a four-year deal to play at Chorzów’s Silesian Stadium.
Aware of the shortcomings of their shabby Cicha Street stadium, Ruch’s fans have spent several years campaigning for a new ground. But while their tenancy of the Silesian Stadium has been viewed as a temporary stopgap, few would argue that the ground’s heritage suits a club of Ruch’s standing.
Celebrated as one of Poland’s most important sporting meccas, the Silesian Stadium opened in 1956 following a five-year construction process that saw local football fans work 589,938 man-hours for free.
The Witch’s Cauldron
Aware of the shortcomings of their shabby Cicha Street stadium, Ruch’s fans have spent several years campaigning for a new ground. But while their tenancy of the Silesian Stadium has been viewed as a temporary stopgap, few would argue that the ground’s heritage suits a club of Ruch’s standing.
Celebrated as one of Poland’s most important sporting meccas, the Silesian Stadium opened in 1956 following a five-year construction process that saw local football fans work 589,938 man-hours for free.
Over 90,000 spectators attended its inauguration, and although Poland were felled 2-0 on that occasion by East Germany, in the years that followed the stadium earned a fearsome reputation as an intimidating fortress––when England were famously beaten here in 1973, the British tabloids christened it ‘the Witch’s Cauldron’. Gleefully lapped up by the Poles, this nickname would stick.
It was during the 1970s that Poland became a global football force, and many of the country’s great triumphs were recorded here. Among other standout performances, fans still fondly recall two victories over the Netherlands–a 4-1 thumping in 1975, and a 2-0 win in 1979 that was watched by over 100,000.
It was during the 1970s that Poland became a global football force, and many of the country’s great triumphs were recorded here. Among other standout performances, fans still fondly recall two victories over the Netherlands–a 4-1 thumping in 1975, and a 2-0 win in 1979 that was watched by over 100,000.
And it wasn’t just the national team that enjoyed its share of glory nights. Throughout its history, the stadium doubled as a home-from-home for Silesia’s club sides during their European forays. For instance, when Górnik Zabrze played Manchester United in the European Cup in 1968, they chose to play here—just under 80,000 gathered to watch Gornik edge a 1-0 win over a United side containing George Best, Bobby Charlton and Nobby Styles.
Over the years, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Rangers and Manchester City would also face off against an array of local Silesian club sides. In addition, ten Polish Cup finals were played at the Silesian Stadium, most recently in 2009
Over the years, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Rangers and Manchester City would also face off against an array of local Silesian club sides. In addition, ten Polish Cup finals were played at the Silesian Stadium, most recently in 2009
However, it was not football that drew the biggest crowds, but speedway. In 1973, the Speedway World Championships saw 130,000 people pack inside the facility to cheer Poland’s Jerzy Szczakiel to a memorable victory.
But as communism crumbled, so too did this once epic arena—while Bono named U2’s 2009 gig here as one of his all-time favorites, by this stage the Silesian Stadium was increasingly seen as a rotting relic from a bygone era.
But as communism crumbled, so too did this once epic arena—while Bono named U2’s 2009 gig here as one of his all-time favorites, by this stage the Silesian Stadium was increasingly seen as a rotting relic from a bygone era.
Closed shortly after U2’s concert, it was then subjected to a drawn-out eight-year reconstruction that saw it lose its defining feature, a central scaffold-like tower that soared into the Silesian sky.
Unrecognizable from yore, what rose in place of the Silesian Stadium’s grim concrete bowl was a state-of-the-art arena crowned by a polycarbonate roof held in place by steel ropes, and an illuminated upper ring stretching all around it.
Unrecognizable from yore, what rose in place of the Silesian Stadium’s grim concrete bowl was a state-of-the-art arena crowned by a polycarbonate roof held in place by steel ropes, and an illuminated upper ring stretching all around it.
Today, only a few token nods to yesteryear survive, such as a Socialist Realist mosaic adorning one of the entrances.
Yet whilst the stadium has been superseded in importance by the National Stadium in Warsaw, to many fans it will always be considered the birthplace of Poland’s football identity—a place where legends were made. Today’s record-breaking attendance is a timely reminder of the arena’s enduring relevance.
Yet whilst the stadium has been superseded in importance by the National Stadium in Warsaw, to many fans it will always be considered the birthplace of Poland’s football identity—a place where legends were made. Today’s record-breaking attendance is a timely reminder of the arena’s enduring relevance.
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