The summer of 1978 sees the arrival of Willi Korth from Schwarz-Weiß Essen, Klaus Schulze from Preußen Berlin and Peter Szech from VfR Neuss. Also, in addition to Harry Gniech, Klaus Meul moves up from the reserve team to the senior squad. Bayer 04 spent 50,000 Deutschmarks on the three new signings, which is well below the levels from previous years. Nevertheless, coach Willibert Kremer is more than happy as the core of the group is kept together. And 19 professional players is a good foundation for a mid-table finish at the end of the season.
The pre-season is very difficult. Both the training camps in nearby Hennef and in Herzogenaurach have to be called off due to continuous rain. As the three pitches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium are being relayed, the Werkself players have to train on the RTHC hockey pitches in Carl Duisberg Park. In addition, one or two friendlies are also postponed. Poor preconditions for a successful season.
The first matchday in the Second Bundesliga North on 29 July 1979 brings an away game at co-favourites for promotion to the Bundesliga: Fortuna Köln. The local journalists believe Bayer 04 have a chance. And the Munster coach Werner Biskup, a former Leverkusen player, believes the Werkself plus Bayer 05 Uerdingen and Fortuna Köln are favourites for promotion to the Bundesliga, albeit as the only coach amongst the competition.
Bayer 04 make a brilliant start in high summer temperatures. The visitors are 2-0 up after 22 minutes with goals from Harry Gniech and Jürgen Gelsdorf. Full of running, committed and tactically disciplined from the start, the Bayer group dominate their opponents. And a quick reply from Fortuna does not put the team off. Substitute Matthias Brücken seals the win on 80 minutes to secure the first two points of the season.
The kicker headline reads, "How Leverkusen beat the millions team" and exposes the Bayer 04 secret. Bayer 04 have a well oiled team strengthened by the talented Peter Szech up front.
Coach Willibert Kremer and the team put the brakes on euphoria straightaway: "That doesn't make us champions."
However, this win whets the appetite for more as the next two matches are both at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. And there are justifiable hopes to be at the top with two good results.
For all the nostalgic amongst us, here's the line-up from the first matchday in the promotion season of 1978/79: Bockholt – Posner, Gelsdorf, Klimke, Scheinert, Hörster, Bruckmann (Elfering 75’), Ziegler, Gniech (M. Brücken 65’), Szech, Herzog
Claus-Dieter, known as ‘Pele’, Wollitz was born in Brakel on 19 July 1965 in Brakel. He earned the nickname of the Brazilian global super star at the age of six because he was able to the juggle the ball for a long time as a child. What was originally meant as a stunt would follow him all his life. Every football fan associates the name Wollwitz with his nickname: Pele.
Show moreJosé Roberto da Silva Junior, Zé Roberto for short, was born in the Brazilian city of São Paulo on 6 July 1974. He started playing football at the Pequeninos de Joquey soccer school at the age of seven. Via the club Palestra Sao Bernardo, the left footer moved on to the professional club Portuguesa de Desportos where he made his debut in 1994.
Show more25 years ago, the Bayer 04 U19 team under their two coaches Thomas Hörster and Dirk Dreher were Regional League West champions and thereby participants in the finals of the German championship.
Show moreAfter promotion to Bundesliga 2, the football boss Hermann Bacall had his hands full putting together a powerful team. For the first training session at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on 14 July 1975 there were nine new signings including five players who became regular starters in the team that won promotion to the Bundesliga in 1979.
Show moreAfter the success of the previous year, the gymnastics and sports club Leverkusen hold the ‘Wiesdorfer Sportwoche’ week of sports for a second time (the city of Leverkusen is only founded in 1930). The week of sport started on Sunday, 12 July 1925. In the years before World War I there were municipal gymnastics and games festivals. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the club in 1924 the board and many helping hands started the week of sports. An internal municipal games festival developed into a national event which made a name for itself after a year particularly due to the relay element.
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