Elana Toruń

Elana Toruń
Full nameZKS Elana 1968 sp. z o.o.
Nickname(s)Elanowcy
Founded28 August 1968; 56 years ago (1968-08-28)
GroundGrzegorz Duniecki Municipal Stadium
Capacity4,300[1]
ChairmanKrystian Jukiel
ManagerRafał Więckowski
LeagueIII liga, group II
2023–24III liga, group II, 2nd of 18
Websitehttp://www.elanatorun.com

Elana Toruń is a Polish football club based in Toruń. It competes in group II of the III liga, fourth tier of the Polish football league system.

History

Stadion Miejski im. Grzegorza Duneckiego in Toruń

The team was at the second level of the Polish pyramid in the 1990s, but were relegated at the conclusion of the 1998–99 season.[2] In the following season, the club changed their name to TKP Toruń, but they were relegated again to the fourth level.[3] The club were often referred to as Toruński KP, but by the 2007–08 season, they had returned to their original name of Elana Toruń and were back playing on the Polish third level.[4] During the 2021–22 season, the club declared bankruptcy and withdrew from the III liga.[5] The reserve team continued playing in the Liga okręgowa, securing promotion to the IV liga, and became the new first team since the 2022–23 season, under the name Fundacja Akademia Futbolu Elana Toruń. In mid-2023, after earning promotion back to the III liga, the club had to change its legal entity and name to ZKS Elana 1968 sp. z o.o., a limited liability company, as foundations are not allowed to compete in the Polish fourth division.[6]

Supporters

Elana fans are commonly known as Elanowcy and include an ultras group of around 100-1000 (depending on match) fanatical supporters. Apart from Toruń, there are fan-clubs in Gniewkowo, Golub-Dobrzyń, Ostaszewo, Aleksandrów Kujawski, Ciechocinek, Kowalewo Pomorskie, Obrowo, Lubicz and Wąbrzeźno.[7]

They have a long-standing friendship with fans of Ruch Chorzów and KS Myszków (who are also Ruch fans), friendly relations with Widzew Łódź fans from Grudziądz,[8] and more recently Wisła Kraków and KKS Kalisz fans.

As the city of Toruń has a rivalry with Bydgoszcz that extends even beyond sport,[9] Elana competes the Cuiavian derby[10] with Zawisza and Polonia. They also compete with fans of speedway club Apator Toruń.

Elana Toruń v Chrobry Głogów (2011-09-17)

References

Kelechi Iheanacho with Elana Toruń in 2011
  1. ^ Torun City Stadium (stadiony.net)
  2. ^ 1998/99 Polish football league results and tables at RSSSSF
  3. ^ "Poland 1999/2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Poland 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Elana Toruń ogłosiła upadłość. Oficjalne oświadczenie klubu". WPROST.pl (in Polish). 23 December 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. ^ Dariusz Knopik (3 July 2023). "Daniel Traczykowski, właściciel ZKS Elana 1968 Toruń: - Nie będzie rewolucji w III lidze". pomorska.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Elana Toruń". www.elanowcy.pl. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Strona fanatyków Elany Toruń". www.elanowcy.pl. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  9. ^ Ćwieluch, Juliusz (29 March 2018). "Bydgoszcz i Toruń – skąd ta wieczna rywalizacja?". www.polityka.pl. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Cuiavian derby". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2015.