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Only 8,000 spectators come to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for the game against VfB Bottrop on 5 May 1968. After a nervy start, defender Willi Haag scores the opener with a long-range effort to the relief of teammates and fans. When Friedhelm Strzelczyk doubles the lead after the half-hour mark it is all about the margin of the expected Bayer 04 victory. A goal from Karl-Heinz Brücken and a brace from Helmut Richert increases the lead to 5-0. As both rivals win their games at least a draw on the last matchday away to Schwarz-Weiß Essen is required as the goal average compared with Rot-Weiss Essen is clearly in favour of Bayer 04. Losing is not an option as the Bayer team would slip down to third place in the event of the other two teams winning.
The Werkself ran onto the pitch at the Uhlenkrug Stadium in pouring rain on 12 May 1968 accompanied by 4,000 Bayer 04 fans. Leverkusen take the lead on 21 minutes with a brilliant diagonal shot from Helmut Brücken. Up to half-time, Essen turn the game round and the Bayer 04 fans don't give their own team any chance. However, coach Theo Kirchberg brings on Klaus Görtz in place of Fredi Hennecken at the start of the second half. And "the tall one" controls proceedings on the pitch for the first 20 minutes after the restart. He takes hold of the game, plays long balls and shoots from all angles. The Essen keeper is unable to hold on to one of those shots from 20 yards out allowing Helmut Brücken to level just after half-time with his second goal. Eight minutes later, Klaus Görtz races away, plays a one-two with Friedhelm Strzelczyk and fires the ball into the back of the net. A complete turnaround at the Uhlenkrug in Essen. The Werkself play wonderful football and have more chances on goal. But the Black and Whites do not give up and are able to equalise on 70 minutes. Essen press for the winner in the last 20 minutes but Bayer 04 battle to hold on to the draw. The Bundesliga play-offs are achieved and as Rot-Weiss Essen win 5-1 in Hamborn, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are the champions of the Regional League West in 1968.
The Werkself are in Group 1 alongside Tennis Borussia Berlin, Kickers Offenbach, Arminia Hannover and TuS Neuendorf (today TuS Koblenz). The Black and Reds play the first away game at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin against Berlin runners-up Tennis Borussia. The 2,000 travelling Leverkusen fans witness a good start by the Werkself. After hitting the post twice, Fredi Hennecken nets the opening goal. But in a repeat of the week before the team are 2-1 down at half-time. The superior fitness on the heavy pitch brings a decisive advantage to the Bayer 04 team in the second half. A double whammy around 70 minutes with goals from Friedhelm Strzelczyk and Fredi Hennecken turns the game round for the team under coach Theo Kirchberg. Helmut Brücken seals the win just before full-time to secure the first two points.
Kickers Offenbach visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium four days later. The ground is bursting at the seams with 20,000 spectators. Fans use the steel supports for the floodlights as seats or go home disappointed as there are no more tickets to be had. The team from Hessen are on top from the start with a very organised defence in the first half and an attacking game in the second. Offenbach deservedly take the lead on 67 minutes. As the referee is just about to blow for full-time, Friedhelm Strzelczyk takes a chance and fires an unstoppable shot from distance into the net to level the scores. The final whistle is met with huge celebrations by the Bayer 04 fans.
The fixture against Arminia Hannover follows a week later. The team from Lower Saxony failed to score in their first three games having lost them all 1-0. The Werkself dominate the first ten minutes but lose their way in the worst performance by Bayer 04 for months. After being a goal down at half-time, substitute Peter Rübenach at least rescues a the point with a strike on 84 minutes.
The Group 1 table after that matchday:
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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