The Stalowcy a season earlier saved themselves from relegation from the then 1st League (now the Premier League) by winning the play-offs with Miedzia Legnica. Our team had already played under the leadership of Grzegorz Lato, who returned from Canada (after 11 years in Belgium, Mexico and Canada) in October last year and was assisted in his coaching work by Janusz Białek. Before the away match against last season’s defending Polish champion Zagłębie Lubin, the Mielczanie had just 17 points on their account (like their rivals) and occupied a place in the relegation zone, as many as four teams were relegated from the league.
The blue-and-white colours already featured the first two foreign players in the history of our club – Ukrainians – from the previous round: Oleksiy Tereshchenko (came in August 1991 from Russia’s Anthracite Kirovsk) and Serhiy Raluchenko (came in September 1991 from Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv), whose play significantly helped our team in this difficult period. Before the trip itself, Stal’s nominal second coach Janusz Białek (replacing Lata, who was then in hospital for a period of time), in pre-match statements stated that Stal were capable of bringing home a point from an uncomfortable ground, and this proved true.
The meeting itself was not a very exciting spectacle, but the Mielec players presented a good defensive game, having also some luck. It came to fruition twice on shots by former Steel striker Maciej Sliwowski. In the 12th minute, he blasted over the crossbar from a free kick, while in the 17th minute, he let himself be overtaken by Mielec defenders. In our team, our 17-year-old goalkeeper Bogusław Wyparło once again showed his good side. Bartkowski, who spoiled a lot of blood for local striker Kudyba, did not do badly in defence. On the other hand, the best in the visitors’ team that day was midfielder Adam Fedoruk. He created a good opportunity for Jędraszczyk already in the first minutes, but he missed the ball. The striker did similarly badly in the second half of this match. The last half an hour passed with the visiting team’s goal under siege, but Stal was concentrated until the last minutes of this rivalry and did not get surprised even once that day.
11.04.1992 – Lubin, 21st round 1st league, Zagłębie Lubin – Stal Mielec 0-0
Referee: Buksza (Katowice) Spectators: 2,000
Zagłębie: Koszarski – Machaj, Pietrzykowski (46 Stachurski), Rogowskoj, Wójcik, Szewczyk, Pisz, Lewandowski, Góra (77 Prokop), Kudyba (ż), Śliwowski Coach: M.Putyra
Stal: Wyparło – Łętocha (ż), Boguszewski, Bartkowski, Fedoruk, Kukowski (ż), Tereszczenko, Barnak (67 P.Stopa), Jaskot, Raluczenko, Jędraszczyk (59 Ruta) Coach: J.Białek (G.Lato was in hospital)
Stal’s league balances with Zagłębie Lubin relate exclusively to appearances in the Premier League (formerly known as the First League) and are decidedly unfavourable for Stali. They have played 23 matches against each other (4 Stali wins, 6 draws, 13 defeats; goals: 21-35).
Leszek Śledziona
Photo: Leszek Śledziona Archive
