Long grass and an uneven pitch makes it almost impossible to play neat passing football - as a result, long balls dominate the action on both sides. The first half is largely uneventful. The most exciting thing: Midfielder Richard Job repeatedly being caught offside. After the ninth time, a nickname was born - "King Richard" quickly became "Offside Job". But it was precisely this "Offside Job" who finally made the breakthrough on 65 minutes. From a fantastic cross by Theo Kirchberg, he scored with a diving header for a deserved 1-0 lead. In the final phase, Bayer 04 made the most of their superior fitness, created several clear goalscoring opportunities - including a penalty missed by Hans Flohr - but the same player doubled the lead at 2-0 with five minutes to play.
With this victory, the Werkself confidently maintain their lead at the top of the table and head into a two-week break. But there is more to come: Just one week after the away win in Solingen, the South-West Oberliga team TuS Neuendorf will visit Leverkusen Stadtpark for a friendly match.
The kick-off is at 14:30 on 12 October. 4,000 spectators turn up to watch the clash between two ambitious teams - and they are not disappointed. Despite dominating the game, Bayer 04 initially fell behind. However, the Werkself turned up the heat after the break: Emil Becks netted the equaliser and Hans Steingans converted a penalty to secure a 2-1 lead. Bayer 04 not only demonstrated their courage that afternoon, but also the quality of their game - another statement on the road to top-flight football.
On the Sunday morning of 19 October 1950, the Bayer squad set off for Cologne. Their opponents were the recently founded Fortuna, set up just one week after their great rivals 1. FC Köln - with the same goal: to form one strong Cologne team from several neighbourhood sides.
The Fortuna pitch is located directly on the Rhine, on Schönhauser Straße, and is taken by storm on this day by Bayer fans and players alike. A veritable mud bath ensued on a pitch that was difficult to play on - but the technical superiority of the visitors made the difference. Time and again, the two wingers Theo Kirchberg and Paul Wiorek burst down the flanks, tearing gaps in the Cologne defence. At half-time, the score was already 3-0 after goals from Karl-Heinz Spikofski, Peter Röger and Theo Kirchberg - a flattering result for Fortuna. The game became more open in the second half, but Bayer remained clinical. Two further goals from Kirchberg and strikes from Wiorek and Job ensured a commanding 7-1 away win.
A few days later, on the Day of Prayer and Repentance, the next friendly match is scheduled. This time it's a real local duel: VfL Leverkusen will be playing at the Stadtpark. 3,000 spectators make their way to the stadium - but the match is not entertaining. The Werkself dominate at will, sending the neighbours from the other side of the Dhünn back over the bridge on Bismarckstraße with a clear 6-1 defeat - and that with a better B team.
Four days later, the regular team is back in action. Leverkusen is football mad - 6,000 spectators want to see the home game against Union Krefeld. After just three minutes, there is no stopping them: Paul Wiorek hammers the ball into the net with his powerful left foot from a melee - the early opener. But after that, the game becomes increasingly flat. Both teams rely on long balls and a classic "kick and rush" approach dominated the action. There was little to be seen of the highlights of the previous week. Playmaker Richard Job in particular is sorely missed - the organiser in the centre is missing. Nevertheless, Bayer 04 manage to hold on to their narrow lead. With their seventh win in a row, the Werkself are on their own at the top of Oberliga West 2 after thirteen games. The euphoria in Leverkusen is growing - the dream of the Oberliga 1 is alive.
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
