How did it begin?
In 1999, the commanders of the Rescue and Firefighting Unit in Bolesławiec came up with the idea of organizing a soccer tournament. Since it was held in December, they called it the “St. Nicholas’ tournament.” Ever since then, with the help of colleagues and the involvement of supporting individuals, the St. Nicholas’ Indoor Fire Service Soccer Tournament has been held in Bolesławiec County at the beginning of December.
On December 7, six firefighter teams met in the gymnasium of the School Complex in Gromadka to play the twentieth-anniversary tournament.
Since only six teams took part, the tournament was played in a round-robin format. Matches lasted 15 minutes each. But that was enough time to score a few goals and get tired.
After 15 matches, in which there was only one draw, the winner of the competition was determined. To everyone’s great surprise, the firefighters from Bolesławiec won. The final match against Zgorzelec decided the outcome.
Bolesławiec firefighters:
In the tournament’s twenty-year history, we had managed to win only the first tournament—and now the twentieth.
Over the years, many teams have appeared in Bolesławiec. We have hosted, above all, firefighters from neighboring commands (Lwówek Śl., Złotoryja, Legnica, Polkowice, Żagań, Zgorzelec and Lubań), as well as from more distant areas (Jelenia Góra, Żary, Głogów, Ząbkowice and KW PSP Wrocław).
International guests also played—firefighters from Pirna and Bautzen, as well as members of OSP Nowogrodziec and OSP Czerna and Bolesławiec police officers. For many years, we also entered a team called “People Friendly to the Fire Service.” Over 20 different companies and institutions supported our initiative over the course of 20 years. Most often, if someone helped once, they stayed with us for years.
And they add:
We would like to thank everyone involved in organizing and conducting the tournament, and for the work contributed at every stage of its creation.
Special thanks go to the teams from Lwówek Śl. and Jelenia Góra for understanding the idea of the “St. Nicholas’ tournament” and funding the prizes, as well as to the competition referees and supporting individuals.
More information and photos are available on the website of the Bolesławiec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service.