Czarni Radom


WKS Czarni Radom is a Radom-based Polish professional men's volleyball team. Founded in 1921 as a football club, with volleyball section founded in 1959, the club was a multi-sport club with many sections, however since 1997 only the volleyball section has remained.
Czarni Radom team won the Polish Cup in 1999 and two Polish Championship bronze medals in 1994 and 1995. The club ceased to exist in 2003 and was recreated in 2007. In the 2012–13 season, after 11 years of absence the team was finally promoted to PlusLiga.

Achievements

Founding of the club took place in 1921 after the split in the football team "Kordian" belonging to Radomskie Towarzystwo Sportowe. Some athletes left from the structure of the association to form a club Czarni Radom. 2 years later the club, gaining more and more sympathy of the 72nd Infantry Regiment stationed in Radom transformed into a Military Sports Club – Wojskowy Klub Sportowy "Czarni". Initially, its work was confined only to the football section. Over time, the club has expanded its structure. However, bringing a volleyball section to life was achieved later and underwent various difficulties.
In 1957, the club's management has decided to create a men's volleyball section. A team that was based on cadets of the Żwirko and Wigura Military Aviation School in Radom started in league one season later. The team took second place in the championship and has withdrawn from the competition.
In 1979 a team led by coach Jan Skorżyński was promoted to the second level league. Historical success was achieved by the team based on its own pupils, Radom high school students and a few soldiers doing military service in Radom. The team consisted of: Andrzej Skorupa, Tomasz Gałczyński, Ryszard Laskowski, Ryszard Pisarek, Jarosław Trochimiuk, Zbigniew Janikowski, Witold Poinc, Janusz Tomaszewski, Robert Mach, Jacek Gagacki, Roman Murdza and Ryszard Kotala.
In 1984 Czarni Radom team achieved historical promotion to the Ekstraklasa, in which played continuously for eighteen seasons. In 1994, coached by Valery Jarużnyj, they won the first ever bronze medal of Polish championship. The success repeated a year later and then the coach of the team was Jacek Skrok.
On 26 September 1997, the whole club was transformed into a volleyball club and changed its name to Warka Strong Club WKS Czarni Radom. In 1999 Czarni Radom players witch coach Edward Skorek won Polish Cup. In season 1999/2000 they played in CEV Cup Winners' Cup.
On 14 April 2002 Czarni Radom team for the first time in its history was relegated to Polish second league. One year later, the club ceased to exist.
In 2007 the club was recreated. In the 2011–12 season, Czarni Radom players, coached by Wojciech Stępień were finally promoted to the I liga and in the next season to PlusLiga.
The first steps to create a Czarni Radom fan club supporters started at the beginning of 1999. In 2003–07, there were supporters without a club. They were conflicted with Jadar Radom because the club did not continue the history and tradition of Czarni Radom that had gone bankrupt. Since 2005 they were not allowed to watch any match of Jadar. This caused conflict among the "new" Jadar fans and the "old" Czarni fans who wanted Jadar to continue the legacy of the dissolved Czarni club. In the end due to the conflict Czarni started attending the reserve Jadar matches and then reformed the original club in 2007 on the basis of them.

Team

No.NameDate of birthPosition
1 Dawid Dryjamiddle blocker
2 Michał Ostrowski middle blocker
3 Michał Kędzierskisetter
5 Bartłomiej Grzechnikmiddle blocker
6 Dawid Konarskiopposite
7 Lucas Lóhoutside hitter
9 Daniel Gąsioropposite
12 Bartosz Zrajkowskisetter
13 Mateusz Masłowskilibero
14 Artur Pasińskioutside hitter
15 Brenden Sanderoutside hitter
17 Bartosz Firsztoutside hitter
18 Maciej Nowowsiaklibero
Viktor Yosifovmiddle blocker

Former names

Head coaches

1958–1959 Franciszek Ziółkowski
1961–1962 Jan Rybicki
1966–1969 Maciej Janowicz
1969–1973 Zygmunt Kądziela
1973–1979 Jan Skorżyński
1979–1981 Roman Murdza
1980–1987 Paweł Blomberg
1987–1993 Jacek Skrok
1993–1994 Valery Jarużnyj
1994–1997 Jacek Skrok

1997–2000 Edward Skorek
2000–2002 Wojciech Drzyzga
2002 Andrzej Skorupa
2002–2003 Paweł Blomberg
2007–2008 Arkadiusz Sawiczyński
2008–2010 Jacek Skrok
2010–2013 Wojciech Stępień
2013–2015 Robert Prygiel
2015–2016 Raul Lozano
2016–present Robert Prygiel

Notable players