KSZN Rypne (officially: Klub Sportowy Zakładów Naftowych Rypne) was an interwar Polish sports club based in the village of Rypne, in the Stanisławów Voivodeship (in present-day Ukraine). The club was disbanded during the Second World War.
History
Foundation In the 1930s, new oil and gas fields were discovered in Nadwórna County, Stanisławów Voivodeship. Oil wells in the region (at Borysław, Drohobycz as well at Rypne by Nadwórna) belonged to the state owned company Polmin. The director of the company, Eng. Kazimierz Sołtyński, was an active enthusiast of football and a pioneer of the sport in Galicia. As the head of the Polmin company, he set out to establish his own football club; at his initiative, a stunningly situated stadium amidst Carpathian pastures was erected in Rypne. Inaugurated on 14 August 1932, the hosts faced off against the renowned Lwów-based club Czarni Lwów on the opening day.
Growth and expansion The Stanisławów District League was established in 1934; already by 1935 KSZN Rypne entered playoffs, competing in the district league's Class B. That same season, the club was promoted to Class A.
As later recounted by locals, the club played well, was a solid mid-tier contender in the Polish league and often competed with clubs from Kraków and Lwów. Talented football players were invited to play for KSZN Rypne not only from the Stanisławów region, but also from other regions of the country—predominantly Greater Poland and Silesia. The athletes enjoyed good financial support in Rypne, as they were simultaneously employed in highly paid positions in the Polmin company. Amongst the club's ranks, players hailing from Ostrów Wielkopolski particularly distinguished themselves—striker Bronisław Młynarek and goalkeeper Jaskuła.
In 1938, KSZN Rypne secured second place in Class A of the district league and defeated the local powerhouse Rewera Stanisławów 3:2. Fielding a squad of young players, the club from Rypne was considered a promising team. Aside from its football section, the club also fielded a tennis team.
Scandal and disestablishment The club found itself at the center of the last football scandal of the Second Polish Republic, which unfolded in the Stanisławów district and involved officials as well as players from KSZN Rypne and Pokucie Kołomyja. The affair was reported as follows in the Polish Sports newspaper Przegląd Sportowy, issue no. 59, dated 24 July 1939:
In September 1939, the Second World War broke out; the Soviet invasion derailed the ambitions of many Kresovian clubs. As a result, KSZN Rypne was dissolved. All in all, the club played a total of 52 matches in the StOZPN, earning 65 points with a total goal difference of +65 (138 scored; 73 conceded).All-time table from 90minut.pl
Season standings SeasonLeague PlayoffsNotesLeaguePlace1935IIIClass B Stanisławów OZPN 1/6Club enters Class B playoffs; promotion to Class A1936IIClass A Stanisławów OZPN3/71936/1937Class A Stanisławów OZPN3/71937/1938Class A Stanisławów OZPN2/81938/1939Class A Stanisławów OZPN3/81939/1940Class A Stanisławów OZPN – Playoffs could not take place due to the outbreak of World War II
Honours Stanisławów District League Runner-ups (1): 1937/38 Bronze medalists (3): 1936, 1936/37, 1938/39
Famous players Bronisław Młynarek
Notes
References