Polonia Bytom

Polonia Bytom is a Polish football club founded on 4 January 1920 in the Upper Silesian city of Bytom, during the hectic months of the Silesian Uprisings. In late 1922 however, as a result of the Upper Silesia plebiscite, Bytom became part of Germany and the club ceased to exist.

In May 1945, numerous players and officials of one of the most famous Polish clubs, Pogoń Lwów arrived in Bytom and decided to revive Polonia. On 17 May 1945 the team played its first game in over two decades, defeating Warta Poznań 3-2.

Polonia is considered the continuation of Pogoń Lwów, its logo is in fact very similar to the logo of Lwów's most famous Polish team as well as their colours, red-blue.

Polonia Bytom's most famous player is goalkeeper Edward Szymkowiak. Its stadium is named after him and has a capacity of 5,500 spectators.

Polonia has won the Polish championship twice, in 1954 and 1962. In 1952, 1958, 1959 and 1961 Bytom was the vice-champion of Poland. In June 2007 Polonia Bytom, after many years, returned to the Polish Ekstraklasa. However, in 2011, the club was relegated to the I liga after finishing bottom of the table with just six wins all season.