The award and the associated prize money are aimed at particularly committed clubs from the Middle Rhine (FVM) and Lower Rhine (FVN) football associations. Since 2007, Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH has awarded the Volunteers Award, which has already provided 55 clubs with more than €250,000 in financial support. Last year, the prize went to SV Schlebusch 1923 e.V., Vorwärts Spoho 98 e.V. and DJK Rheinkraft Neuss 1914 e.V.. Once again this year, 46 clubs from both areas of the association applied.
This year's winners were honoured on Sunday, 3 December, during the Werkself’s Bundesliga home match against Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena by the advisory board, consisting of Fernando Carro (Bayer 04 managing director), Peter Frymuth (FVN president), Dirk Brennecke (FVM managing director) and Marc Adomat (Leverkusen city director).
“Volunteering is a fundamental component of football,” said Carro. “The voluntary work of each and every individual in sport conveys and promotes values that are indispensable for our society. The award is not just about recognising the winners. We also want to honour all other applicants for their day-to-day implementation of innovative projects and hope that numerous clubs and individuals will continue to get involved in the future.”
BSV Roleber 1919
BSV Roleber 1919 has looked ahead to the future with its sustainability concept and its numerous associated key topics. The concept pursues an innovative approach that goes far beyond a purely social commitment. This includes switching to fair trade products within the club, replacing old refrigerators, switching to LED lighting and setting up a sustainability working group.
TuS 05 Oberpleis
TuS 05 Oberpleis submitted a very comprehensive application. The ‘Fit for you and Planet blue’ exercise programme developed in collaboration with Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences played a major role in this. The aim of the programme is to offer sustainable and, above all, free outdoor sports activities. The prize money is to be used for new project ideas.
SV 1924 Glehn
SV 1924 Glehn runs various projects to promote the village community. One of these successful projects is ‘Hanna's Hope’ in Namibia. Funds generated to date and in the future are to be donated. Glehn's application in 2022 had already been very positive and the club had already won the Volunteers Award in 2011.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27
Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career working as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
Having previously recorded six consecutive home wins across all competitions, Bayer 04 suffered their first home defeat of 2026/27 as they went down 4-2 to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Matchday 8. The visitors capitalised on their first two chances to score, with Ermedin Demirovic and Jamie Leweling finding the net in the first half. Although Patrik Schick got a goal back in the first half, Bilal El Khannouss and Demirovic again added further goals for Stuttgart. Bayer 04 didn’t give up, but Ibrahim Maza’s goal proved little more than a consolation.
Show more
Fans at the BayArena got to enjoy a spectacle on Wednesday as the Werkself came from behind to beat Nürnberg 5-2 in the DFB Pokal. Now with the sixth home game of the season, can Bayer 04 maintain their perfect record in Leverkusen as VfB Stuttgart come to town in the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30 CET)? The visitors have had issues domestically this term, sitting in 15th place, although they have had much better results in the UEFA Champions League. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 8 encounter…
Show more
The Bayern Munich women’s football team are unbeaten in all domestic competitions in the last 62 matches. On Sunday (15:00 CET), the Bayer 04 women’s team will make their next attempt to end the holders unbeaten run in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie. For coach Roberto Pätzold, there are a number of factors that give the Werkself cause for optimism despite the high-calibre opposition.
Show more
