History: 75 years ago - The 1950/51 season (November)

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.