It was only four years ago that the tennis aces of TSV 1880 Starnberg played in the regional league.
In the meantime they only have one men's team - way down.
Starnberg – Hans-Günther Maier likes to look back.
"Those were great times when we had a strong men's team and were number one south of Munich," says the tennis coach at TSV 1880 Starnberg.
It was just four years ago that his club played in the regional league.
Adventure regional league becomes a broken neck for TSV 1880 Starnberg
But of all things, the adventure in the third highest division in Germany heralded the end of the great times.
After the bitter relegation from the regional league, the Starnbergers were at least supposedly able to avoid falling out of the Bavarian league.
But numerous departures then forced the TSV to withdraw to the state league.
Among them was Sebastian Prechtel, who celebrated his first title on the ITF tour in Egypt last weekend.
After the departure of Daniel Kunz as captain, Matthias Wörsching tried to close the gap.
"But I'm not getting any younger either and I don't have the strength or time to set up a powerful team," says Wörsching.
It is not just a question of financial resources.
"There's a lot to organize.
For example, the foreign players need to be accommodated.
It all takes a lot of effort," he says.
Young team not strong enough for Landesliga - surprising departures
The Starnbergers tried their luck with a young team after the departure of all top performers.
But it wasn't strong enough for the state league.
After the songless relegation a year ago, other players surprisingly said goodbye to TSV 1880.
"Actually, we wanted to attack a league lower," says Nils Neumaier.
The new Starnberger captain quickly found himself with his brother Jonah pretty much alone in the field.
“We have now decided to play for Weiden this season.
That's my coach's club," says Neumaier.
But the goal for the coming season is clear: "We want to get a team back on our feet at TSV."
TSV 1880 Starnberg: Tennis restart in the second lowest league
In this round, the only men's team consists mainly of former juniors of the club.
It is only a four-man team that plays in the Südliga 5, the second-lowest division.
The next older men's team are the men 55 in the Bayernliga.
“That has to change again in the future,” demands Coach Maier.
Wörsching sees it that way too.
"I will try to set up a men's 30 team next season," he announced.
Because not only the somewhat older generation should show high-class tennis at the Riedener Weg.
heh
