
"We are very happy to again win the award after 2019/20 and 2020/21," said Linda Schöttler, general manager of the Bayer 04 Women's team. "That again shows the outstanding work of our grounds staff. Particularly as the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is used by several teams." The Werkself regularly complete their final pre-match training sessions here. And the U19 and U17 teams also play their home games at the UHS.
The awards are based on a pitch management tool of the DFB where the quality of the pitch is rated according to a ten-point system from 1-2 (very bad) through to 9-10 (excellent) after every game by the team managers of the home and away clubs as well as the referee involved. At the end of the season, the individual assessments produce an overall table.
The pitch at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium has a hybrid surface with a especially hard wearing natural grass playing surface strengthened with artificial fibres.
"The Pitch of the Year is an award for all our ground staff team," said Gail Schmitz, head groundsman at Bayer 04 who was responsible for an impressive team with 14 members of staff. "Everybody here makes their contribution to offer our Women's team players, our first team and the U19 and U17 youth sides a high quality playing surface. Both in the summer and the winter. We are very happy with the third title in succession. And the fact we were again able to come out on top against strong competition makes us a little bit proud."

A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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In keeping with the current freezing temperatures, Bayer 04 has heavily discounted numerous winter items – from cozy hats and sporty matchday clothing to stylish fleece and winter jackets.
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The fourth showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 starts for the Leverkusen eSports team today, Thursday 22 January (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel and on the Bayer 04 app from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Reds will once again compete with six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round in Berlin on 2 February at the fourth showdown. The lowdown on our next three opponents in the online preliminary round.
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A month on from the last match of the old year, the Werkself also play the first game of the new year in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Roberto Pätzold's side open Matchday 15 with the meeting at promoted side 1. FC Union Berlin on Friday (18:30 CET).
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