Back
1.09.2024Bayer 04

From the archives: 105 years ago – 21 September 1919, 16.00

On that day, the league game or championship football competition match, as it is was called back then, for TuS 04 Leverkusen, who were the football section of the future Bayer 04 Leverkusen for a long-term time, played on the Pitch on the Dhünn.
Mannschaftsfoto 1920/21

That was on the site of today's Neuland park. The players of the two teams changed in the dressing rooms of the recreation centre and they then walked to the football pitch. Entrance costed 50 pfennigs for adults and 30 pfennigs for schoolchildren and anybody who didn't have anything else to do could watch the third team game at two o’clock. Warming up on the pitch was unthinkable for the first team of TuS 04 and their opponents the Rasensportverein Urbach, a small village near Cologne. A week after the match, the General-Anzeiger reported on the game:

"Last Sunday the above team was on the sportsground an der Dhünn for the championship match. At the stroke of four o'clock the two teams lined up for the referee. Leverkusen with a new line-up first played against the wind. The Black and Reds were encamped on the opposition goal. The goalkeeper and the defenders had to work hard but the ball was again and again brought out of the danger zone near the goal with great skill. Urbach gradually found their feet. But the forceful attacks broke down on the good Leverkusen defence with Bartsch today performing outstandingly. There was no score at half-time.

After half-time the Black and Reds took full control but still failed to score. Then – with 26 minutes to play – Bönnen received a good pass but was fouled. The ensuing penalty is converted. Urbach now try to equalise with all their might. The outside left again and again pulls the attack forward. With ten minutes to go Koll handles the ball in a melee. Penalty.

The spectators are highly excited. The heavy rain does not drive them away from the pitch. But the penalty is hit over the bar. "A new penalty!" says the referee as somebody has entered the penalty area too early. The excitement in the crowd grows even more. The shot comes but Nagelschmidt saves to huge applause. Shortly after that the referee ends the game. It was a battle where the better team won."

The players mentioned by the reporter Richard Bartsch, Josef Bönnen and goalkeeper Peter Nagelschmidt are the backbone of the Werkself after the First World War. Richard Bartsch was the captain of the football players at TuS 04 for many years, was a successful goalscorer and playmaker and more physical than his opponents. Due to his size he was considered to be a football giant in our region.

Related News

Von Eigl bis Calhanoglu | Tore des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Goals of the Month: From Eigl to Calhanoglu

In this video you can watch impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 in the month of October. It is not always about the beauty of the goals but also about remembering special games and players.

Show more
Vor 35 Jahren – Tabellenführung in München | Spiel des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Match of the month: 35 years ago – Top of the table in Munich, part two

The Werkself secured victory against Bayern Munich for the first time on 1 November 1986. On matchday 12, Bayer 04 beat the Bundesliga league leaders 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich and go top of the table.

Show more
Torben Hoffmann wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month five: Torben Hoffmann is 50

Torben Hoffman was born in Kiel on 27 October 1974. In his youth he played for TuS Schwarz-Weiß Elmschershagen. The qualified policeman joined Holstein Kiel in 1993. Two years later he moved on to VfB Lübeck in Bundesliga two. After relegation with Lübeck in 1997 he came to attention of SC Freiburg and they signed the defender. The team relegated from the Bundesliga went straight back up with Torben who moved under the Bayer Cross in 1999 after another year in the Bundesliga. However, he was unable to establish himself at Leverkusen making only sporadic appearances and he was rarely in the starting XI. He played in a total of 30 games for the Werkself.

Show more
Thomas Reichenberger wird 50 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month four: Thomas Reichenberger is 50

Thomas ‘Thommy’ Reichenberger was born in Bad Kreuznach on 14 October 1974. The son of a former Bundesliga player – his father Max made 38 Bundesliga appearances for 1860 Munich – played for Eintracht Bad Kreuznach as a youth player before moving up to the first team.

Show more
Manfred Pomp wird 60 | Geburtstagskind des Monats Oktober
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2024

Birthday boy of the month three: Manfred Pomp is 60

Manfred ‘Manni’ Pomp was born in Aachen on 25 October 1964. His first football club was the Aachen police sports club (PSV) but he signed for Alemannia Aachen after a year.

Show more