There were very few players left in the Mielec team, which just two years earlier had played in the elite of our football: Pytlos (then mainly reserve goalkeeper), Gazda, Lupa and Kleszcz, and Mysiak, Czylok, Kapuściński and Król, who did not play in this meeting. The rematch played on Sunday (we lost 0-3 in Gliwice on 18 September 1963) was the last league rivalry between these clubs until the premier league match in autumn 2020. The Stalowcy were 7th in the second-league table after 21 rounds (22 points), while Piast were 14th (17 points). The duel stood at a poor level – as reported by Rzeszów News – similar to A-class skirmishes. The visitors were focused on defensive play throughout the match. The pitch was boring. Mielkanie were attacking, but their positional attacking play in the first 45 minutes was too anaemic, as they were unable to work out a convenient position from which to shoot a goal. In the 20th minute we had a free kick and Alfred Gazda’s powerful shot was knocked out for a corner kick by the Piast goalkeeper. A few minutes later, unexpectedly, Dąbek found himself in front of the visitors’ goalkeeper, but he shot too weakly. The visitors led one counter-attack in the 44th minute. After a cross from the right wing and Dera getting into a good position, his header was deflected for a corner by Augustyn Wiesław Pytlos.
The second half was marked by even stronger defensive play from Piast. Finally, come the 88th minute, the referee stopped the action after a foul by Urbańczyk on Gaździe.
The Steelmen then took a free kick just outside the penalty area line. Tadeusz Lupa stepped up to the ball, hit the ball in an angle, and Stein kicked the ball out in front of him. The oncoming Adam? Dąbek (who came from Kabel Kraków before this season and returned to the Mielec team for half a season after playing there for a year) did not waste this opportunity. Stal eventually finished in 12th (last) safe place this season, while Piastunki were relegated.
03.05.1964 – Mielec, 22nd round of 2. liga, FKS Stal Mielec – Piast Gliwice 1-0 (0-0)
Referee: Raczkowski ((Lublin) Spectators: 6,000
Stal: Pytlos – Lubertowicz, Strańczyk, Lupa, Rejdych, Rachwał, Gazda, Pietraszewski, Dąbek, Miceusz, Kleszcz (46 Volstaedt) Coach: S.Malczyk
Piast: Stein – Chrobok, Urbańczyk, Heller, Żmuda, Majka, Koszera, Kwietniowski, Janowski, Hein, Dera Coach: J.Kubiak
Goal: Dąbek 88 min.
Steel’s league balances against their rival from Gliwice at the two highest levels of the competition look as follows: in the top division the two teams faced each other 8 times (1 win for Stal, 2 draws, 5 defeats; goals: 5-16), in the 2nd division they competed 12 times, including 1 match repeated due to a referee’s error (4 wins for Stal, 3 draws, 5 defeats, goals: 15-17). In the Polish Cup, Stal played against Piast four times (4 defeats, goals: 1-7 / penalties 3-4/).
NOTE: The author of this text is looking for confirmation of the name of the Stali player DĄBEK in the 1963/64 and spring 1965 seasons (15 games/2 goals). He asks for contact in this regard.
Leszek Śledziona
Photo: Leszek Śledziona Archive
