Celebrating 108 years of football history and honored customs: publication detailing the Polish game's rich heritage and illustrious past
**Stepping through the colorful pages of "The Game in Swing", the intoxicating scent of printer's ink lingers, as if the book was printed yesterday. We're thrust back, we're reminded... This book marked a crucial milestone, chronicling the evolution of football in Polevskoy spanning over a century.
Authored by journalists Yevgeny Kozhevnikov, Margarita Gundina, and Anatoly Zasuhin – a veteran footballer and member of the legendary UPI team – the book was meticulously pieced together to preserve the rich history of the cherished sport in Polevskoy.
The book's publishing coincided with three notable events: the 100th anniversary of Polevskoy football, the 300th anniversary of the city of Polevskoy, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Yekaterinburg. Hoping to draw in tourists, they sought to showcase the city's attractions and its football history.
Comprised of memoirs from various individuals involved with football – players, fans, athletes – the book further boasts contributions from 20 authors. Through the Herculean effort of Margarita Gundina and Anatoly Zasuhin, the publication was ready and released in just one year.
As for the first football team in Polevskoy...
- Official records confirm that, in 1917, the first Polevskoy team ventured to Syssert for football matches. Notably, the team of 1917 was an international ensemble, with most players being Finnish workers recruited in Polevskoy at that time, as Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. These athletes introduced football to Polevskoy, and it quickly gained popularity. It's worth noting that during the early days of Soviet power in Yekaterinburg, there were also inter-team friendlies involving international squads. Football flourished rapidly in the Ural region.*
Why commit ourselves to football, given that many sports are well-developed in our city?
- Polevskoy may be a sporty city, but football is unique. It cultivates a team spirit, promotes cooperation, and is valuable beyond mere sport – it unites the masses. Today, our city of Pervouralsk boasts its own Football Federation, and that's fantastic! Exercising football fosters both physical and mental health. For kids, it's a potent educational platform; a coach should be a guide, therapist, and historian, aware of the sport and its pioneers.*
Is Ural football distinguishable from Moscow football?
- Undeniably, it is. Our regional football remains amateur, while professional football is more common in cities like Moscow. However, our amateur football lays the groundwork for professional players to emerge. Mikhail Vasyev, for instance, an outstanding Pervouralsk native, achieved the title of Master of Sport of the USSR at 18, one of the youngest in the USSR. The factory team "Severny Trubnik" was semi-professional, with the factory taking a keen interest in having top players represent its name.*
Who's your favorite current footballer?
- In the world of today's players, I have a soft spot for Ronaldo and Messi. At one time, I was in awe of Pele and Maradona. But my all-time favorite will always be Lev Yashin; he was a phenom of a player.*
As for current Pervouralsk footballers, I admire Alexander Shcherbakov, a nimble-footed midfielder now playing for Volgar (Astrakhan). Sergei Abramov, currently with Sinara Yekaterinburg, is another worth mentioning. Among veterans, Anatoly Zasukhin played with grace, while Victor Zykov, who lacked vision, ran fast but faced some limitations. Pervouralsk continues to breed noteworthy players; our book isn't just about football; it's a reflection of life, of different generations.*
Ivan Mar'yakhin, specialist in special disciplines at PMT
Before, the "Regional Newspaper" had reported on the launch of the first-ever Russian championship in adaptive football in Nizhny Tagil.
Sports in Pervouralsk value more than just competition; they foster team spirit, cooperation, and education. "The Game in Swing" – a book chronicling the evolution of football in Polevskoy – highlights sports-analysis, providing insights on the uniqueness of local football, its distinctive features compared to cities like Moscow, and the significant contributions of local players.
