1.04.2024Bayer 04

Miscellaneous: 80 years ago – Helmut Creutzburg

Helmut Creutzburg was born on 22 January 1922 and he played for the Bayer 04 youth teams in the 1930s. The exceptionally talented keeper not only displayed his evident ability in goal. His ambition did not keep him between the sticks. He tried his luck as a striker and at a stroke was the most dangerous centre forward who played for Bayer 04 during the war. In games he would change position according to the scoreline either to come from behind or help to maintain the lead.

He was enlisted during the Second World War and he fought on the eastern front in Russia. There were not many matches during that time with players only able to play when they were home on leave for two or three weeks as was the case with Helmut Creutzburg in April 1944.

On 2 April 1944, the centre forward scored a hat-trick in an away game at Eller 04 to secure a point for the Werkself.

On 16 April 1944, two weeks after his three goals, the most talented player in Leverkusen died on the Russian front at the age of 22.

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As league leaders, the Werkself welcomed the relegation-threatened team from Rhenania Würselen. On 4 February 1951, 5,000 spectators line the touchlines despite the Sunday carnival parades. And they see a home team that is superior on the pitch. Without Theo Kirchberg, who was ill, and Emil Becks, who was suspended, the hosts attacked the opposing goal from the start. Battling against a strong wind in the first half, Bayer 04 created chance after chance, but were repeatedly thwarted by the Würselen goalkeeper. With the score at 0-0 at half-time, Karl Heinz Spikofski tried his luck on 55 minutes and hammered the ball into the opposition net from 20 metres out. Rhenania can no longer counterattack. The siege of the Würselen penalty area continued right to the end, but the game ended in a narrow 1-0 win.