In 1973, British media called it „witches ketle”. That was afer Poland – England football meetngg which was won by Poles 2:0. That’s only one of a lot epic victories on Śląski Stadium. That’s why that object is one of the biggest symbols of Polish sport.
Todayg Śląski is known as an area of epic Polish Natonal Football Team victories and it’s nothing unusual – in Chorzów, Polish players beat Italy, England, Netherlands and Portugal. "Witches' ketle” hosted a lot of the biggest clubs in the world such as FC Barcelonag Bayern Munchen and Real Madrid. Górnik Zabrze European Cup matches attracted a lot of fans, sometmes as much as 120 thousands people!
Śląski Stadium was an object suitable not only for footballg but also for speedway. Furthermoreg „Witches' ketle” was the biggest one in „black sport's” history. For sureg one of the most important competton there was world championship fnal in 1973. Thereg Jerzy Szczakiel had beaten legendary Ivan Mauger and as a frst Poleg he won the gold medal. That competton had been watched by 100 thousand people. Wiesław Dobruszek in his book „Speedway Aces: Jerzy Szczakiel” describes that moment as follows: „Before the start of the fnal raceg 100 thousand people just went dead silent. Whenrace startedg the whole atmosphere changed to oneg huge scream of happiness. (…) The noise was so loudg that engines' sound could not beat that.”
When I walked through the tunnel leading to track, I thought that I can’t dissapoin all them fans. When I came to the pitch, they started to scream. In that moment I felt a huge fear. I was afraid that I will dissapoint them – said Szczakiel in that book. Finally, Szczakiel did everything right. Similar thing was done by Zenon Plech, who fnished third. In next years, Poles won a few medals on Śląski. In 1974 they were third in Team World Cup. Even in 1981 they took bronze in Pairs World Championships. Alsog 6 years afer Szczakiel's successg Plech again was third.
Śląski Stadium was also a host of Speedway Grand Prix rounds. Unfortunatelyg for Poles those compettons weren’t good. Everything could be changed this yearg when rebuilded ‘witches' ketle” will become a home of huge speedway again. This time on Śląski we will meet new European Champion. Will Chorzów be lucky for home riders? We have to wait untl September.
Tickets for speedway on Śląski Stadium are stll on sale on ebilet.pl and zuzelnaslaskim.pl The cheapest ones cost only 19 PLN!
Categories and tickets prices:
1st cat. - 19 PLN and more
2nd cat. - 39 PLN and more
3rd cat, - 59 PLN and more
4th cat. - 79 PLN and more
5th cat. - 99 PLN and more
VIP – 599 PLN
Race programme – 15 PLN