Almost One Hundred Years of a White-and-Green Phenomenon The History of Our Club - "Wisloka" Debica.

Klub Sportowy "Wisloka" Debica is one of the oldest sports associations in Poland. It was founded in 1908 by a group of students from a local high school. Its name comes from the Wisloka river, which flows by the town of Debica. The colors are white and green stripes.

Debica is a medium-size town of 49.000, situated in South-East corner of Poland, in the Podkarpacie region. Our town's proximity to two centers of Polish sports - Lwow and Krakow - early in the 20th century influenced its young inhabitants, thus inspiring them to organize something on their own.

As soccer is Poland's national sport, small wonder that the "Founding Fathers" started with a soccer team as the first step. Later on, more disciplines were added - cycling, tennis, track and field, volleyball, ice-hockey, chess as well as the one which made Wisloka renowned world-wide. It was wrestling, Greco-Roman style.

First fifty years of the history of our club were not very successful. Soccer players were unable to get promoted to Polish 3rd Division. Other athletes were also struggling to get beyond regional stage.

The situation started to change early in the 60s. In 1961, two Debica's teams - Wisloka and Stal - were united, thus creating a powerful force in Podkarpacie's soccer stage. The new team kept up the name Wisloka and six years later dreams came true - our boys got promoted to 3rd Division - at last! Even though competition at this level was stiff, Wisloka was doing unexpectedly well. So well, that in 1972 the team finished first, consequently being promoted to Nationwide 2nd Division!

The 70s are generally regarded as golden years in club's history. Our wrestlers found no match - not only in Poland, but also in the world. Almost every year they brought piles of medals from various competitions - including the Olympics! Wisloka had a lot of rich sponsors. Funds, provided by them, allowed to keep various teams - apart from soccer and wrestling, women's and men's volleyball, boxing, ice-hockey, cycling, even chess and bridge!

Hovewer, at the end of the 70s, the situation rapidly deteriorated. One of major sponsors - Food and Agriculture Machinery Company "Igloopol" founded its own soccer and boxing teams. Later, other sponsors refused to cooperate, and by 1982 Wisloka was left with only one source of funds - Tire Company "Stomil".

Under the circumstances it is obvious that club's achievements shrunk. In 1979 soccer team was relegated back to 3rd Division, and wrestler's successess were not as numerous as before (but still significant - one of our fighters won a gold medal in World Championships in 1982).

The 80s were not good for the club. Main rival - People's Sports Club "Iglooopol" - was supported by local communist government, and as Debica is way too small for two teams, one of them was grossly neglected. Forced again to struggle for survival, Wisloka did not give up. Soccer players were firmly set in 3rd Division and wrestlers kept up their good position, although no longer on the world-wide scale.

In 1987 fans were disappointed to see their favorite team relegated to 4th, Regional Division. Fortunately, this unpleasant adventure did not last long and in the summer of 1988 Wisloka jumped back to a higher level.

In June of 1991, after a very successful season, for the second time our team won promotion to 2nd Division! Wisloka stayed there for four years and in 1995 it was relegated back.

Following years can be characterized as "unfulfilled". For three seasons in a row Wisloka almost finished on top of the table - but the word "almost" clearly explains the point.

By 2000 it was obvious to everybody that good years were definitely over. The last remaining sponsor - "Stomil" (which in the meantime changed its name into T.C. "Debica") changed its policy, which ended up in withdrawing its support. Financial and economic situation in Poland was gradually getting worse and Wisloka found itself in dire straits.

Today, fans of a poor club from a poor town have few reasons to celebrate. But we are still hoping that good times shall eventually become reality. Right now, since 2001, Wisloka plays in 4th Division and it looks like the team will stay at this level for a longer time.

However, for us, die-hard supporters, it is not really important if Wisloka plays in 4th, 3rd or 2nd Division. No matter what happens, we will stand behind our team, because Wisloka means all what's best to us!