
The funds from the 15th presentation of the Bayer 04 Volunteering Award are to be used, according to need, by clubs particularly affected by the two aforementioned events. The Middle Rhine Football Association (FVM) was given €10,000 for that purpose and the Lower Rhine Football Association (FVN) €5,000.
“While professional football has taken place over recent months, amateur football has often been called off due to the pandemic. The consequences of the flood disaster have further worsened the situation for the clubs,” explained Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH and the Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH. “The allocation of this year’s Volunteering Award takes account of these circumstances. We want to honour the commitment of as many volunteers as possible at the clubs in the two local football associations.”

This year’s award was presented at the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Greuther Fürth at the BayArena on Saturday, 4 December. That was part of the DFB campaign matchday ‘Danke ans Ehrenamt 2021’ (Thanks to Volunteering 2021), which Bayer 04 supported in a number of ways at the weekend.
As a result of the postponement of the 2020 awards due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the winners of the 2020 Volunteering Awards joined the two association presidents Bernd Neuendorf (FVM) and Peter Frymuth (FVN) at the event. That involved two clubs from the Middle Rhine Football Association Jugendsport Wenau 1957 and SC Sparta Bardenberg plus TuB Mussum 1955, a club from the Lower Rhine Football Association (FVN).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sportförderung gGmbH was founded in 2007 with the aim of promoting volunteering in football. 49 clubs from the Middle Rhine (FVM) and Lower Rhine (FVN) associations have received over €220,000 of financial support from the annual Volunteering Award to date.

Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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The DFL (German Football League) has published its first report on sustainability in German professional football. The report highlights substantial developments in the league and at all 36 clubs in Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in recent years. Bayer 04 also played a part in the creation of the report and were involved in compiling the content.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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