Bayer coach Erich Garske has to manage without a number of regular starters and instead relies on players from the junior and reserve teams. Without key players such as regular keeper Fredy Mutz, the twin brothers Karl and Martin Gramminger as well as Werner Torner and Hans-Otto Peters, the Werkself came under pressure early on.
Horst Maier gave the Black and Yellows a deserved 1-0 lead on 11 minutes. Although Reiner Arenz equalised for Bayer 04 in the 20th minute, Schlebusch right winger Johann Stahlberg restored their lead before the break - 2-1 to the underdogs.
After the restart, SV Schlebusch even increased their lead to 3-1 on 54 minutes. The Werkself now took command and created several chances, but were thwarted either by the uncompromising defence of Matthias Valentin - a former long-time Bayer 04 referee organiser - or by the outstanding goalkeeper Werner Steilen.
Steilen, a former Bayer 04 youth player who had even received a call-up to the Germany team in the 1950s, excelled himself in this match. In the 1955/56 season, he played in goal three times in place of the injured Fredy Mutz in the Oberliga West, but otherwise mainly featured for the reserve team. Now, however, he shone against his old team-mates - with saves to keep out Heinz Höher and Werner Röhrig, among others - and he secured a sensational triumph for his team.
After the final whistle, there is no holding back: SV Schlebusch celebrate frenetically, the small club has defeated its big neighbour. Although the exit came in the next round of the Pokal against FC Köln - the Goats won 4:0 - the historic victory against Bayer 04 remains unforgotten in these parts.
And: Eight years later, in 1968, SV Schlebusch struck a similar blow once again. They beat the Regional League West champions 1-0 and knocked the Werkself out of the Pokal.
Christoph Daum was born on 24 October 1953 in Zwickau. As a child, he moved to West Germany with his mother and grew up in Duisburg. He developed a great enthusiasm for football at an early age, even though it soon became clear that his future lay less on the pitch than on the sidelines. Even at a young age, his passion for analysing, explaining and improving things became apparent.
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When the Bayer 04 players celebrated Christmas in 1960, they spent the winter in second place in the Oberliga West 2 on 20 points - but already five points behind leaders Schwarz-Weiß Essen. However, coach Erich Garske's team are struggling to get back on track in the new year. A goalless draw against Bonner FV at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium was followed by a 2-1 away defeat in Erkenschwick. The following home game also yielded just one point. As a result, the team's promotion ambitions dwindled to a minimum, as the gap to the coveted spot has now grown to a challenging ten points.
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In this video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of February. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
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It is 11 February 2006 and Schalke 04 and the Werkself kick off at 3.30 p.m. in a match that ends up being historic - at least from a Bayer 04 perspective.
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As league leaders, the Werkself welcomed the relegation-threatened team from Rhenania Würselen. On 4 February 1951, 5,000 spectators line the touchlines despite the Sunday carnival parades. And they see a home team that is superior on the pitch. Without Theo Kirchberg, who was ill, and Emil Becks, who was suspended, the hosts attacked the opposing goal from the start. Battling against a strong wind in the first half, Bayer 04 created chance after chance, but were repeatedly thwarted by the Würselen goalkeeper. With the score at 0-0 at half-time, Karl Heinz Spikofski tried his luck on 55 minutes and hammered the ball into the opposition net from 20 metres out. Rhenania can no longer counterattack. The siege of the Würselen penalty area continued right to the end, but the game ended in a narrow 1-0 win.
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