Birthdays
October 27:
— On this day, Attila Ghinda, who was born in Sighetu Marmației and played for Kispest-HFC between 1995 and 1997, celebrates his 54th birthday.
— Dr. Gyula Válya was born 136 years ago. He was the first mayor of Kispest after the settlement received city status in 1922. As a committed supporter of Kispest’s public and sporting life, he did much for the reputation of both the club and the city as president and later honorary president of Kispesti Atlétikai Club.
October 29:
— Patrick Ikenne-King celebrates his 34th birthday. During his years in Kispest, the Nigerian defender became a fan favourite and celebrated unforgettable successes with the club. He was a member of the Budapest Honvéd side that won the league title in the 2016–17 season.
October 30:
— Antal Bárfy, who was born, raised and developed his talent in Kispest, would have turned 95 on this day. He served his club faithfully between 1945 and 1954 as a player for Kispest and later Bp. Honvéd. As a member of Honvéd’s legendary golden era, he won the league title in 1952 and silver medals in 1951 and 1953.
October 31:
— Ödön Bergmann was born 131 years ago. In 1941 he became president of the supporters’ group known as Kispest-Közép. In January 1943, the general assembly of Kispesti AC elected Ödön Bergmann vice-president of the club.
November 1:
— Győző Gollowitz, a city councillor and savings-bank director, was born 152 years ago. In 1931, the general assembly of Kispesti AC elected him co-president.
Those who passed away
October 28:
— Twenty-four years ago, on October 28, 2001, József Kelemen, an outstanding defender for Bp. Honvéd, passed away. From 1968 to 1977 he became a key player in Bp. Honvéd’s red-and-white shirt. He made 198 league appearances in Kispest colours and, with his calm and reliable play, was one of the pillars of the defence. With Honvéd he finished league runners-up twice (1969, 1971–72), reached three cup finals and was a member of the Kispest side that won the 1975 Tournament of Champions. He also earned recognition at international level, appearing for the senior national team in three World Cup qualifiers. The Honvéd family preserves his memory with respect.
October 30:
— We remember former Kispest goalkeeper József Dénes, who passed away 89 years ago. The talented sportsman lived for only 31 years, and his career and fate were inseparably intertwined with the history of Kispest. Although his life was tragically short, his memory remains forever part of the district’s sporting history.
Discovered by Béla Mayer, he joined Kispest in 1926. In his first match for the club, the young goalkeeper produced a series of spectacular saves and even stopped a penalty. Dénes proved a worthy successor to Kispest’s great goalkeepers Ignác Amsel, Péter Varga and János Biri. In November 1928 he also made his debut for the national team against Switzerland. His memory lives on in Kispest’s sporting history.
November 1:
— László Rákóczi, who passed away nine years ago, wrote his name permanently into the history of Kispest football. He played for Kispesti AC and later Budapesti Honvéd, setting an example of loyalty to the club throughout his career. In the eyes of the supporters he was not only an excellent footballer but a player who always played for the team, the badge and the community. László Rákóczi won the league five times with Budapesti Honvéd.
