The promotion heroes of 1979 kick-off this black and red weekend. Nearly all members of the team around World Cup winner Dieter Herzog, Fred Bockholt, Jürgen Gelsdorf and Thomas Hörster will be there when celebrations begin in the VIP area at the BayArena at 19.04 CET. An entertaining programme has been put together by Rüdiger Vollborn and Dirk Dreher with historic video and photographic material plus interviews bringing the promotion season and the first years in the Bundesliga to life. A journey through time in the 1970s and 1980s that no Bayer 04 supporter should miss.
Tickets for 'Promotion Day' are available now for five euros (including free drink) from the Bayer 04 Fan Liaison (Bayer 04 Fan House, Breidenbachstraße 46, 51373 Leverkusen) and from 16.00 CET at the home game for the Werkself against Eintracht Frankfurt (5 May, 18.00 CET) from the fan container. Each ticket sold helps to support the 'Kreative Schwarz Rot' club that implements and finances creative ideas for the Leverkusen fans with choreography for example.
While the team under head coach Peter Bosz are battling for important points to qualify for Europe in the match against FC Schalke 04 on 11 May, there will be supporting events on the day of the match celebrating '40 years Bundesliga under the Bayer Cross'.
In March the club called on fans to vote online for the best players over the course of time in the Bundesliga. 12,000 votes were cast and the outcome was the Bundesliga All-Stars – 40 players plus 5 coaches who have all been invited to Leverkusen for the weekend by the management at Bayer 04. Ahead of kick-off, players like Bernd Schneider, Ulf Kirsten, Zé Roberto, Dimitar Berbatov and Bum-kun Cha plus coaching legends Christoph Daum, Klaus Toppmöller and Erich Ribbeck will be honoured in the stadium. The programme of events including a special shirt, and historic matchday magazine and different entertainments will show on 11 May that it is no ordinary matchday at Bismarckstraße.
Experience the history of the club first hand. On Sunday 12 May, fans of the Werkself can meet their heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow – at the 'Tradition Day' in and around the BayArena. The doors at the BayArena open at 09.30 CET.
The first highlight is a match involving the Bundesliga All-Stars at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Werkself legends play each other from 10.00 CET. While the All-Stars are toiling on the turf, visitors can make use of the Food & Drink stalls and try out the different games on offer. The West area of the BayArena will be open from 11.30 CET. Fans have the chance to see the press conference room, the VIP areas the Mixed Zone and also get on the team bus. The Bundesliga All-Stars, the promotion heroes of 1979 and members of the current team will be available at different points to talk to fans, sign autographs or pose for photos. The programme will be rounded off with a range of interviews conducted by legend stadium announcer Günter Maczkowiak and his successors Klaus Schenkmann, Pitti Dahl and Tobias Ufer on the stage in the Piazza and at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
Tickets (one euro each) for the 'Tradition Day' are available now (Bayer 04 ticket web shop, by phone on 0049 (0)214 5000 1904 or in person from the Bayer 04 shops).
The historical background
Bayer 04 Leverkusen finally reached their target on 30 May 1979. A 3-3 draw with Bayer 05 Uerdingen ensure promotion to Germany's top flight for the team coached by Willibert Kremer. The first Bundesliga campaign started on 11 August 1979 with an away game at Bayern Munich. Bayer 04 have been in the top division since that day – in addition the Werkself only by Munich and Borussia Dortmund share that claim.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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