Back
1.01.2025Bayer 04

From the archives: 75 years ago – Club badge above the main entrance

29 January 1950 sees a league match in the second Oberliga West between Bayer 04 and Preußen Krefeld. After a 3-2 reverse away to Rapid Köln a week before, the Werkself want to show that they have learned from the defeat. 6,000 spectators stream to the Bayer pitch, as the old Stadtpark is known locally, on a cold January Sunday. The main attraction of the day is not the match but rather the new main entrance with Sportvereinigung Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the club badge pride of place.
Vereinswappen über dem Haupteingang am Stadtpark

The match proves difficult for the Werkself from the start. The visitors take the lead with their first attack and then Emil Becks is injured and he can only carry on playing with a limp. Hope comes when Paul Wiorek hits the bar in a Bayer 04 attack. But that disappears after 20 minutes with Krefeld scoring a second goal. Fortunate for the Werkself that the two-time goalscorer for the visitors is sent off after 30 minutes for "persistent dissent" - we can translate that as insulting the referee. At least the number of players is equal again. Bayer 04 pull a goal back through Manfred Höher at 2-1 and that is the half-time score.

The second half sees one attack after the next on the Preußen goal but the 6,000 Werkself fans have to wait until minute 78 before the equaliser is scored by Helmut Laaser. Another Krefeld player is sent off five minutes before the end and in the final minutes 20 players pile into the Krefeld penalty area. Helmut Laaser literally scores the winner in the last second with the Bayer 04 fans celebrating.

Paul Wiorek am 29. Januar 1950

Alongside the victory and the two points, the new main entrance is the subject of discussion on the day. The next few years people enter the old Stadtpark under the club badge. As a memorial to this wonderful gate, NK12 put up a reproduction on the corner of Walter-Nernst-Straße/Am Stadtpark a few years ago.

 

Related News

Zoltan Sebescen
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Birthday boy of the month: Zoltan Sebescen turns 50

Zoltan Sebescen was born on 1 October 1975 in Ehingen and he started playing football as a child. His talent stood out early on and he was accepted into the youth section at Stuttgarter Kickers in 1982. There he progressed through all the youth teams and continued to develop. His breakthrough in the men's game came in the mid-1990s, when he moved up to the Kickers first team squad. With his speed, dynamism and attacking drive, he soon made a name for himself beyond the region. He and his team were promoted from the Regional League South to Bundesliga 2 in 1996 and stayed in the league with Stuttgart for three years.

Show more
Jens Nowotny
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Legends: Jens ‘Jenne’ Nowotny

Jens Nowotny was born on 11 January 1974 in Malsch, Baden-Württemberg. As a youngster, he played for SV Spielberg and Germania Friedrichstal and later joined the youth section at Karlsruher SC. As a 15-year-old, he became an integral part of the DFB national youth set-up and played for all of the Germany junior teams. One highlight was an U15 international against England at Wembley.

Show more
Bayer 04 gegen Stuttgart am 24. Oktober 2015
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Match of the month: 10 years ago - Two memorable games within four days

It is Tuesday, 20 October 2015 - a Champions League night at the BayArena. The visitors: AS Roma. What awaits the spectators is a memorable football match full of drama, speed and emotion. The Werkself get off to a flying start and literally overrun the slightly favoured Italians in the early stages. The scoreline was 2-0 after just twenty minutes - both goals were scored by Mexico international Chicharito. Bayer 04 put the visitors under constant pressure with their aggressive pressing and bold attacking play and even had a chance to make it 3-0. Then the AS Roma captain Daniele De Rossi brought his team back into the game with a brace making it 2-2 at half-time.

Show more
Karim Bellarabi
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

Goals of the month: From Vöge to Bellarabi

In the video you can see impressive and important goals in Bayer 04 history from the month of October. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.

Show more
Bayer 04 1960/61
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2025

From the archives: 65 years ago - Pokal upset in Schlebusch

On 23 October 1960, a highly anticipated local derby took place in the DFB Pokal, which the team had to qualify for via the regional association cup competitions at the time: SV Schlebusch hosted the Werkself from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Around 2,000 spectators flocked to the "Am Bühl" stadium to watch the game kicking off at 3 pm.

Show more