Back
1.02.2023Bayer 04

From the archives: Sensational season 1967/68 – February

It's Sunday, 4 February 1968. The Bayer team await the Westphalians of TSV Marl-Hüls. The opponents put on a brave performance in front of 6,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

Bayer 04 bombard the opposition goal for over an hour and the keeper Marwig shows what he can do particularly with long-range efforts from the Werkself. Then it finally changes on 67 minutes. Midfielder Helmut Brücken beats three Marl-Hüls players, puts in an accurate cross for Fredi Hennecken and he can choose his corner of the net. The dam is broken: Two minutes later, Günter Haarmann makes it 2-0 from a Klaus Görtz corner. Görtz with the third strike and Helmut Richert with the fourth round off the scoring at 4-0. As the two Rot-Weiß teams from Essen and Oberhausen also win their games, the Kirchberg group maintain a two-point lead.

On 11 February 1968 it's off to Herne to play Westfalia. At the Schloß Strünkede Stadium, the home team fighting relegation, are the underdogs against Bayer 04. And the team with a cross on their chests fulfil their role as favourites. The Werkself deservedly lead 2-0 after 20 minutes with goals from Helmut Richert and Karl-Heinz Brücken. Clearly on top against the opponents, Bayer 04 ease off and the battling Herne team pull a goal back just before half-time. A short and sharp half-time discussion brings the league leaders back to life. Straight after the restart, Richert makes it 3-0 with a shot from the edge of the box. The Herne striker Schubert intercepts a back pass from Helmut Röhrig, beats the keeper Hans Benzler to make it 3-2 with 15 minutes to play giving Westfalia renewed hope. But Bayer 04 are able to see home the victory.

crop_19680204_Fans.jpg

 

Fifth-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium a week later. Two goals from centre forward Karl-Heinz Brücken in the first half seal a convincing 2-0 win in front of 11,000 spectators. A well organised defence comfortably maintains the advantage in the second half. When a 2-1 defeat for Rot-Weiß Essen at Victoria Köln is announced over the loudspeakers there is great celebration around the ground. The top of the table is as follows:

1. Bayer 04 (22 games) – 35:9 points

2. RW Oberhausen (23 games) – 33:13 points

3. RW Essen (22 games) – 31:13 points

And March brings the big games against the two direct rivals Oberhausen and Essen as well as a rearranged game at home to Preußen Münster. More on that next month.

Related News

Wolfgang Vöge
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month I: Wolfgang ‘Wolle’ Vöge turns 70

Wolfgang Vöge was born on 15 September 1955 in Ahlen, Westphalia and he was the fourth of seven children of a miner. His father, Erich Vöge, was a football referee as well. At an early age, Wolle, as he was called by his friends and teammates, developed a great passion for football and was an enthusiastic fan of BVB. His first success in football was achieved in the amateur game at his hometown club of SV Ahlen. He scored 26 goals in the first season and he came to the attention of scouts. That led to his move to Borussia Dortmund in 1975.

Show more
Andreas Thom
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month III: Andreas ‘Andi’ Thom turns 60

Andreas Thom was born on 7 September 1965 in Rüdersdorf near Berlin in Brandenburg. Andreas displayed an exceptional talent on the ball even as a child. Early on, he joined the youth section at BFC Dynamo Berlin, one of the leading football clubs in the German Democratic Republic. There he received targeted, performance-oriented training as part of the GDR sports system. His talent, his vision and his technique led him to make his debut in the first team at BFC Dynamo at the age of 17.

Show more
Jens „Melle“ Melzig
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Birthday boy of the month II: Jens ‘Melle’ Melzig turns 60

Jens Melzig was born in Cottbus on 28 September 1965. Melle, as he was called at Leverkusen, started his playing career at his hometown club Energie Cottbus. As a young player there he soon stood out thanks to his strength in challenges and his ability to read the game. He was in the Energie Cottbus first team in 1984 and he played for the club in the GDR league and the Oberliga. With 144 appearances and twelve goals he became one of the big players in defence. He made a major contribution to the club during this period – as a strong-tackling central defender who also displayed leadership qualities.

Show more
Lucio
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Legends: Lucio, the Brazilian elemental force

Lucio, full name Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, was born on 8 May 1978 in Planaltina, a suburb of the Brazilian capital Brasília. He showed his passion for football even as a child. On the dusty streets of his neighbourhood he spent hours chasing the ball – often in bare feet like many Brazilian children. Despite the simple conditions he grew up in, his family always supported his dream of one day becoming a great football player. He made his first steps in club football at small local clubs before moving onto the youth set-up at the club Guará and later he singed for the big club Internacional Porto Alegre. Bayer 04 signed the internationally completely unknown defender from there in January 2000.

Show more
Admir Mehmedi
Bayer 04 - 01.09.2025

Goals of the month: From Ökland to Mehmedi

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

Show more