Arkonia Szczecin

Arkonia Szczecin is the oldest Polish sports organization, formed after World War Two in what was German Province of Pomerania. Its origins date back to June 1945, when in Koszalin, the so-called Milicja Obywatelska Sports Club (Milicyjny Klub Sportowy) was established by Stanislaw Fortunski and other sports enthusiasts. First football game in Polish Koszalin (former German Koslin) took place on June 6, 1945. It featured a team of Red Army soldiers, against Milicja Sports Club; the Soviets won 5:3.

In February 1946, when local government of this region of Poland was transferred from Koszalin to Szczecin, the team was also moved, and renamed into Milicja Sports Club Szczecin. In 1947 - 1956, the club went through several changes, with different names, such as Gwardia and Chrobry. Finally, after a merger with Stoczniowiec (the team supported by local shipyard), its official name was Stoczniowo-Gwardyjski Klub Sportowy "ARKONIA" Szczecin. This name remained in use until 1971.

In its heyday (1960s, 1970s), Arkonia had as many as 15 departments, with several top national athletes. The organization was famous for its football team, which in the early 1960s played in the Ekstraklasa, waterpolo team, swimmers, boxers and cyclists. Since 1971, several departments were transferred to other organizations, such as volleyball, which was taken over by Gryf Szczecin, and fencing, transferred to Wlokniarz Szczecin. Currently, Arkonia has only two departments, water polo and football.

References

• History of Arkonia Szczecin. Retrieved 27/11/2015