Up until it was demolished in 2007 it was not the favourite building of Leverkusen residents but it had been used three times for Bayer 04 celebrations. Three times? Yes, three times: 1988, 1993 and 1997. There was a motorcade through the city centre both to celebrate the UEFA Cup win and the DFB Cup win. In 1988, in rain and with protesting pedestrians ("Why are cars driving through the centre of the city?!" "They won the UEFA Cup yesterday." I don't care two hoots, this is a pedestrian zone and cars aren't allowed here!"). And another time in brilliant sunshine in 1993. On both occasions, a stand was built up in front of the town hall and the fans were able to celebrate.
Following the party after the DFB Cup win in 1993, the team met up in a restaurant with a big terrace and a view of the town hall square. The fans were singing and dancing there and waiting for their heroes to come out so they could throw them into the town hall fountain one after the other when they left the restaurant. It was too dangerous for me. I grinned at the lads, took a run and I dived in myself. When we finished as league runners-up for the first time in 1997 we used the balcony of the town hall this time without the motorcade. We don't have a town hall balcony any more since it was demolished in 2007 but there are definitely enough alternative venues in Leverkusen where we can celebrate. The only thing missing is the title we've been waiting almost 30 years for.
Jürgen Röber was born on 25 December 1953 in Gernrode in former East Germany. He came to the west with his parents in 1956, living in Bertlich in the district of Recklinghausen and playing for SuS Bertlich up to U15 level. He then moved to FC Zons in the Lower Rhine region and spent his final youth years there. Werder Bremen became aware of the strong-running midfielder via Verbandsliga clubs Ford Niehl and TuS Lingen and brought him into the Bundesliga in 1974.
Show more
In 1963 there was a matchday between Christmas and New Year. 3000 spectators came to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 29 December. In blazing sunshine and wonderful winter weather, Bayer 04 play SpVgg Herten, a club from Recklinghausen, on a good playing surface. In a time before substitutes with injured players staying on the pitch like statues, the Werkself are fighting to stay up. .
Show more
In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of December. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.
Show more
Matchday 17 in the 1983/84 season brings a derby at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. It is 9 December 1983, the last game before the winter break. Our stadium is, unimaginable today, not sold out but does have a decent crowd of 15,000. Around 2,000 spectators have crossed the Rhine from Cologne.
Show more
On Saturday, 2 December 1978, Bundesliga 2 northern section leaders Bayer 04 hosted the team sitting third in the southern section, SpVgg Bayreuth, in the third round of the DFB-Pokal.
Show more