Fan project is 20 years old

The director Stefan Thomé sent out the invites and Michael Schade was one of the people who called in. "For Bayer 04 it's good to know we have a completely reliable partner at our side in the Fan Project," said the CEO and he went on to praise the first-class work of Thomé and his colleagues Daniela Frühling and Hannes Diller.

For 20 years, the Fan Project has looked after Werkself fans at home and away games, taken part in security meetings, provided advice with personal problems and conflicts related to football and organised preventive events on the subjects of violence, racism and bullying in schools. In addition, there are regular football and running sessions.

"The successful concept of the Fan Project is based on well thought out educational work," said Uwe Richrat, Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, and Marc Adomat, head of the Department for Schools and Sports, added: "The Fan Project, with its full-time and voluntary staff, regularly succeeds in ensuring that football at the BayArena is one of the best activities in the world."