In the 1977/78 season, Górnik was very close to the promotion to the Ekstraklasa, but failed and finished the games behind GKS Katowice. As a result, several top players left Wałbrzych: Włodzimierz Ciołek went to Stal Mielec, while Marek Pięta went to Widzew Łódź. Stanisław Świerk was replaced by the new manager, Horst Panic.
