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

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