By Jaroslaw Adamowski
September 19 – Gornik Zabrze supporters have set up a new entity, modelled on the associations of Spanish football clubs, aimed at acquiring an ownership stake in the Polish side. The latest move comes as a response to the continuing financial woes of Gornik which is controlled by the city of Zabrze.
Representatives of the new entity, Socios Gornik, say they wish to benefit from the experiences of foreign supporters’ associations.
“The concept behind our activities has its roots in Spain, because the football fan movement is very active and intensive there, and positively impacts on the clubs, and Germany, because we want to use their organisational solutions,” Aleksander Kopka, a member of the board of Socios Gornik, told local news site sport.pl.
According to Kopka, the new association is aiming to provide an inclusive platform for all the supporters of the Zabrze-based club.
“We want to activate all Gornik supporters, not only the Ultras. For socios, the question of nationality or personal background is irrelevant. Gornik is intended to unity, it is only the club that matters. Everyone who considers themselves a supporter from the club from Zabrze can become a member [of the association],” Kopka said.
Socios Gornik says the association is planning to hold talks with Mayor of Zabrze Malgorzata Manka-Szulik and the club’s management to discuss the areas of potential cooperation.
“We want to collect , because we know that the city, as the main shareholder of Gornik, will not be able to cover its debts,” Kopka said.
Gornik Zabrze plays in the Ekstralasa, Poland’s top league, and has won the league championship 14 times and the Polish Cup six times.
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