"We are very happy to again win the award after 2019/20 and 2020/21," said Linda Schöttler, general manager of the Bayer 04 Women's team. "That again shows the outstanding work of our grounds staff. Particularly as the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is used by several teams." The Werkself regularly complete their final pre-match training sessions here. And the U19 and U17 teams also play their home games at the UHS.
The awards are based on a pitch management tool of the DFB where the quality of the pitch is rated according to a ten-point system from 1-2 (very bad) through to 9-10 (excellent) after every game by the team managers of the home and away clubs as well as the referee involved. At the end of the season, the individual assessments produce an overall table.
The pitch at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium has a hybrid surface with a especially hard wearing natural grass playing surface strengthened with artificial fibres.
"The Pitch of the Year is an award for all our ground staff team," said Gail Schmitz, head groundsman at Bayer 04 who was responsible for an impressive team with 14 members of staff. "Everybody here makes their contribution to offer our Women's team players, our first team and the U19 and U17 youth sides a high quality playing surface. Both in the summer and the winter. We are very happy with the third title in succession. And the fact we were again able to come out on top against strong competition makes us a little bit proud."
Matchday three in the league stage of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 takes Bayer 04 to Stade Brest. To be more exact to Guingamp where the game against the most westerly top-flight club in France will be played at the Stade de Roudouro on Wednesday, 23 October with the kick-off at 18.45 CEST. The match will be covered live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio. Up to then we will take you on the tour #aCROSSeurope and keep you up-to-date on the Werkself in Brittany.
Show moreThe Werkself face French club Stade Brest on Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams won their first two games in Europe's premier club competition. Kick-off is at 18:45 CEST this evening, Wednesday 23 October, at the Stade du Roudourou (Guingamp). Catch up with key information ahead of the clash.
Show moreStill unbeaten and now with seven points to their name: In the third match of the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League, Bayer 04 U19s earned a point at Stade Brest. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Stade Francis-Le Blé, Kerim Alajbegovic put Leverkusen ahead (24'), but the French side equalised shortly before the break. After the break, Artem Stepanov had the best chance for the Werkself but his shot hit the post and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Show moreBayer 04 are away to Stade Brest on Wednesday, 23 October (kick-off: 18.45 CEST at the Stade de Roudourou, live on DAZN) on matchday three in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the game, to be played in Guingamp, head coach Xabi Alonso and Martin Terrier spoke about their ambitions, the dangerous opponents as well as the personnel situation at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday night.
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