History: 75 years ago – The 1950/51 season (August)

Bayer 04 started the new season on 20 July 1950. To the applause from almost 2,000 spectators, the Werkself stepped onto the pitch at the Am Stadtpark stadium and the season target was clear to the supporters: finally achieve promotion to the Oberliga West. Under the direction of new coach Raymond Schwab, who brought one of his Essen players with him in the shape of Karl-Heinz Spikofski, the team did a couple of laps. Coach Schwab gave a speech in front of all the fans where he clearly imparted his request for calm in the stands and he said he hated nothing more than heckling or laughing when mistakes are made. He hoped the Bayer 04 supporters would follow his advice.

Richard Job returns

The fans also saw a familiar face. Richard Job returned to Bayer 04 after a season at TSG Vohwinkel. Centre-forward Fritz Tiede is also there but he is hoping for a move from Preußen Köln. He was to get that the following season but that meant he had to stay with the Cologne side this term.

After the Leverkusen football supporters had to be satisfied with a meagre training offering two weeks before, the fixtures started on Wednesday, 2 August 1950. First with a friendly against high-quality opposition in a Vienna Wien side that included seven Austrian internationals.

Attractive opening match against Vienna Wien

In poor weather, 5,000 spectators witnessed an outstanding football match. The Werkself put the Viennese goal permanently under threat and are mainly denied by the Austria international keeper Engelmeier. Vienna secured a surprise lead just before half-time but left winger Paul Wiorek, with the nickname Atom due to both his incredible ability as well as his hard shot, is able to level. After a mistake by goalkeeper Helmut Rennen, who joined the Werkself after keeping goal for the handball team TuS Rheindorf, the team from the Austrian capital make it 2-1 and then 3-1. The first game under coach Raymond Schwab ends in defeat.

trip to southERN germany

After Bayer 04 play league rivals Union Ohligs twice at the weekend, the Werkself head south for a week. The Bayer 04 group leave for Würzburg on the Saturday morning on a bus called ‘Käthe’. After an eight-hour drive, Bayer 04 lose 2-1 to Würzburger Kickers on a very narrow pitch. The consolation goal from a header by tall centre back Peter Röger unfortunately comes too late.

The day later after a good night’s rest looks better for the Werkself. A 1-0 victory away to SV Wiesbaden. The scorer of the only goal was Fritz Tiede who made the trip although he is a Preußen Köln player.

Tiede and his poor eyesight

On the return journey on Monday, the Werkself make an enjoyable stop at a Sekt producer in Rüdesheim. They then head home in good mood and the duet from the two Fritzs Pütz and Tiede provides the necessary entertainment. A little anecdote on centre-forward Fritz Tiede, who will not feature in reports over the next months because, as mentioned, he has to play for Preußen Köln: As a player with very poor eyesight, who does not wear contact lenses when playing, he often asks teammates up front for their name and only passes to them if he recognises their voice. If he didn't recognise the voice then it was an opponent for him and he continued running with the ball.

close-fought match at Düren

After the last friendly at SV Röhlinghausen, with no result announced, the first competitive match is on 27 August at the Westkampfbahn in Düren. The Bayer 04 information mostly announced by press spokesman Heinz Nelles twice a week got the Bayer 04 supporters in the mood for the first competitive match. At 13:15 a special train, filled with 1,000 Bayer 04 fans and a range of flags, drums and trumpets, set off for Düren. And just after the supporters took their places in the stadium, they were able to celebrate. Paul Wiorek scored the opening goal on two minutes. The Werkself continued to attack in the following 40 minutes and were only denied by the Düren goalkeeper or the woodwork. Bayer 04 took a 1-0 lead into half-time.

The Werkself paid for their high tempo in the first half in the second 45. The blazing sun also took effect so that you had to worry about winning as a Bayer 04 fan. But the match ended in a deserved away win and a good start to the new season.