Helmut Weidlich, Johann Schiegg with Luise Frei
Stefan Weiser – The first hurdle in the club
The first youth coach Hubert Stadler
The history of TSV Mindelheim – Table Tennis Department
FIRST FOUNDING
The first Mindelheim table tennis department already existed from July 1947–1957. Enthusiastic players in those years were Mr. Wimmer, Helmut Weidlich, Otto Munter, Josef Habigt, Stefan Weiser, Mr. Friedl and Luise Dinner (now Frei). Between 1952 and 1954, these players took part in the Central Swabia league. The team, which had good prospects, then unfortunately had to be withdrawn because there was no suitable room for training and playing.
FIRST SUCCESSES
In December 1954, Luise Danner (now Frei) succeeded in taking 1st place in the Central Swabian Championships in doubles, 2nd place in mixed and 3rd place in singles against strong competition. In 1956, also in December, R. Hölzle achieved a remarkable 2nd place in the singles in the C-class of the youth championships among 30 participants at the Central Swabian Championships.
THEN CAME THE END
Excerpt from the official club news of TSV Mindelheim from October 1954: After two years of participation in the Mittelschwaben league and in various team and single tournaments, things have suddenly become very quiet around our department. The lack of players and other difficulties unfortunately forced us to withdraw the team from the league. In our opinion, the lack of players cannot be remedied as long as there is no suitable room for training and playing on the boards. We just have to come to terms with the given facts and continue playing on a small scale. However, it is not the case that nothing is happening at the table tennis department; interested parties are of course welcome to join at any time. Finally, we would like to ask that even those who are skeptical about the table tennis department be convinced that table tennis is a fully-fledged sport, even if it may not be as popular as some other sports. After all, we are united in the gymnastics and sports club, where everyone can do sports according to their inclinations. That was the end of the official TT department of the TSV for a long time.
Re-establishment on October 18, 1972
But the department continued to exist “underground”, and on October 18, 1972, the table tennis department was revived. The initiator was again Helmut Weidlich, who was also elected as the 1st department head. He received active support from Johann Schiegg, Luise Frei and Stefan Weiser. They played in the old gymnasium at Rotkreuzplatz on four borrowed tables. There was no league play yet. Below are a few pictures from the years 1972/73, do you recognize everyone?
1st ladies 1973 from left: Anneliese Handschuh, Luise Frei, Berta Heinzelmann and Ursula Gerle
1st men: Hubert Stadler, Michael Sollors, reinforced by national player Martin Ness, Gerd Weinrich and Karlheinz Simmet
Department head Jochen Dröse, Ludwig Pointner, Josef Brack, Heinz Jakob, national player Wilfried Lieck, Stefan Weiser, Erwin Baur, Gerhard Helzel
THE FIRST SEASON
By 1973, a lively playing operation had developed with over 40 TT athletes. The six club-owned tables were the pride and joy. With one ladies’ and men’s team each, as well as two student teams, they were able to take part in league play. The ladies’ team consisted of Luise Frei, Ursula Gerle, Anneliese Handschuh and Berta Heinzelmann, the men’s team of Werner Kreitmeier, Michael Sollors, Ludwig Pointner, Hubert Stadler, Helmut Weidlich and Ernst Brunner. In October 1973, both teams competed in their first league match; the ladies won 6:3 against TSV Haunstetten and the men 9:5 against TSV Pfaffenhausen. The boys’ team started with a 7:2 win over TV Türkheim.
FIRST YOUTH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
In the same year, the first city championship for young talent, which was supervised by Hubert Stadler, was held. The champion was Gerd Weinrich, ahead of Michael Neumayer, Karlheinz Simmet, Guido Hafner, Rainer Maurer and Ludwig Kleiner. Also in 1973, the first single successes were achieved. Rainer Maurer became Central Swabian student champion, Guido Hafner took a good 9th place in the B-class of the Swabian Youth Championships and Ludwig Pointer won the Central Swabian ranking tournament for men.
We have always been more than just table tennis ...
The great solidarity over decades in the club is mainly shown through joint activities outside the club, and there have been many of these over the decades. The traditional city cup tournament with teams from the Cologne area has been held for over 30 years with annually changing venues. And every 3 years the teams insist on the event being held in Mindelheim. Could this be due to the Frundsberg Festival?
A highlight was also the participation in the Paralympics in Hungary or the many Frundsberg festivals, for many years also with our own stand at the former Metzgerei Pointner. Even the carnival in Cologne was not safe from us and the legendary “Betscheler-Ball” in Dirlewang always had a large table reserved for the Mindelheim table tennis department.
We also have a strong connection to many clubs in the area and these were cultivated through friendly matches outside of the league matches, not only in table tennis. There were regular soccer games against SV Egelhofen followed by “celebrations”. We were usually supported in these games by SV Mattsies. And then there is of course the annual ski trip, usually in the first week of March, to Ratschings in South Tyrol …
Participants at the Paralympics in Hungary
Every 3 years again … the Frundsberg Festival
Carnival in Cologne
Club excursions …
Line dance of the “older” youth
Legendary Betscheler balls in Dirlewang
Traditional city cup tournament
Club solidarity – SV Egelhofen/SV Mattsies
Annual ski week in Ratschings
More impressions – click through and let yourself be surprised ...
The list of club champions
There are still many gaps and unfortunately no documents could be found for many years from 1997. If anyone can fill some of these gaps, please send me an email so that I can add to the list piece by piece.
