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The Werkself start brightly in front of a full house at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 3 June 1968 and go 1-0 up with a goal from Helmut Brücken. But then the home side ease off. TuS Neuendorf grow stronger by the minute and equalise just before half-time through future World Cup winner Bernd Hölzenbein. The game becomes very nervy in the second half and the final result is a fair draw.
The following weekend, on 8 June, brings the “match of the year” with 28,000 spectators making their way to the Bieberer Berg in Offenbach for the top match in the promotion round. The stadium is bursting at the seams as it is a crucial game in this group. A win for Offenbach would make them almost uncatchable with their three-point lead in the group with three games to play. For Bayer 04 that means definitely don’t lose.
Offenbach exert strong pressure on the Bayer 04 goal from the kick-off. They only hit the bar from the penalty spot on 17 minutes and all other efforts on goal are kept out by a brilliant display from Hans Benzler in the Leverkusen net. When Benzler isn’t in the right spot, the crossbar helps him with two long-range shots. But then there is a breakaway attack by the Werkself on 33 minutes. Peter Rübenach gives Bayer 04 a 1-0 lead at half-time.
More of the same in the second half. The Kickers attack is driven on by their frenetic fans, Bayer counter. When the team from Hessen appear to be thwarted by the Bayer 04 keeper, the Kickers captain Hermann Nuber levels with a shot to the far post on 72 minutes. The Werkself have a great chance two minutes later through Willi Haag. As the spectators have already come to terms with a draw, the referee has the whistle at his lips for an Offenbach throw-in, the Kickers Offenbach left winger Becker shoots at goal – and a deflection off Helmut Brücken sees the ball trickle into the back of the net. Coach Theo Kirchberg complains after the game, “that the referee had indicated blowing the final whistle and that annoyed my team." The referee blew his whistle straight after the goal leaving the Werkself pointless. Now it was about hoping that the teams in the group without a chance don't give away any more points.
The Berlin runners-up Tennis Borussia Berlin come to Leverkusen three days later. The Leverkusen supporters have unfortunately already written off promotion and only 5,500 fans find their way to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. They have to wait for over 60 minutes for the first Bayer 04 goal. After going behind on 16 minutes, the Werkself players continue to attack the Berlin goal but the equaliser only comes on 62 minutes with a strike from Helmut Richert. The deadlock is broken and the team can't be held back. Karl-Heinz Brücken with two goals and Helmut Brücken increase the scoreline to 4-1.
There is an indifferent game in Koblenz at TuS Neuendorf on Sunday 16 June. The two sides draw 1-1. The big heat wave in June 1968 affects all the players. Günter Haarmann scores a deserved equaliser late on in the second half. As Kickers Offenbach win in Berlin, the team from Hessen are confirmed as promoted.
For the last unimportant game in this season, Arminia Hannover visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Werkself end the most successful season for a Bayer 04 team on 19 June with a 4-1 win including a hat-trick from striker Fredy Hennecken within seven minutes, between 71 and 81 minutes. Sadly only 4,500 fans witness the performance of their side, that has thrilled them for over a year and will always be the team in the history of Bayer 04 to be the first knocking on the door of the Bundesliga.
Here are TV highlights of the final promotion match against Arminia Hannover!
Dieter Bast was born in Oberhausen on 28 August 1951. He began playing football in the youth team at DJK Arminia Klosterhardt, a local club in Oberhausen. Whilst training as a toolmaker, he moved to neighbouring club Sterkrade 06/07 to play for their U19s, where he caught the eye of Bundesliga sides Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bast opted for Rot-Weiss and played in the Bundesliga from 1970 onwards. In his very first year, he made 22 appearances as a right winger, scoring three goals. Nevertheless, Essen were unable to avoid relegation.
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José Vítor Roque Júnior was born on 31 August 1976 in Santa Rita do Sapucaí, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As a youth, he played for São José EC, a club in the east of the state of São Paulo. His professional career began in 1995 with Palmeiras São Paulo. There, Roque Júnior quickly established himself as a key player in the team, making more than 200 appearances and enjoying significant success. With the club, he won the Copa do Brasil in 1998 and the Copa Libertadores in 1999, the South American equivalent of the European Champions League.
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In this video you can see impressive and important goals in the history of Bayer 04 from the month of August. It's not always about the beauty of the goals, but also a reminder of special games and players.
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The Werkself play their first top-flight match in Bayer 04’s history away at Sportfreunde Katernberg. 7,000 spectators turn up at the Am Lindenbruch stadium in that district of Essen. The Katernbergers have transformed the once ‘barren’ pitch into a real gem. On this Sunday afternoon, 19 August 1951, the lush turf provides the perfect conditions for a good game of football.
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Following a thoroughly successful start with a 2–1 home win against VfL Wolfsburg, the Werkself are organising a team event. On Wednesdays, they head to the Nürburgring together and do a few laps at speed. Manager Klaus Toppmöller welcomes this initiative, as it promotes team spirit and integration. During weekly training sessions, the team works extensively on various defensive tactics, as the manager was dissatisfied with his players’ pressing in the final minutes of the match against the Wolves.
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