1.07.2023Bayer 04

History: Promotion season 45 years ago in 1978/79

After matchday 33 in the 1977/78 campaign in the Second Bundesliga North and a 3-2 defeat away to VfL Osnabrück, Bayer 04 Leverkusen are fifteenth in the table in a league of 20 clubs. Three points separate the Werkself from a relegation spot. Coach Willibert Kremer surprises a lot of people at the next home game by starting reserve player Harry Gniech. He inspires a turnaround – the last five games are all won and relegation avoided. Now it's all about getting a group of players together for the 1978/79 season that want to avoid being involved in a relegation battle.

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

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