Fürsty Speeders dissolved: Does the crossminton adventure end in Fürstenfeldbruck?

Fürsty Speeders dissolved: Does the crossminton adventure end in Fürstenfeldbruck?

The crossminton community in Fürstenfeldbruck is mourning the end of a unique chapter, as the Fürsty Speeders, the first and only crossminton club in the district, have finally dissolved. The club was founded in 2010 by Charly Knobling and his colleagues and enjoyed enthusiastic players and international competitions for almost 15 years, but can look back on a turbulent development that ultimately led to the end. How Mercury reported, the search for a successor to long-time chairman Knobling was unsuccessful, which led to the club's dissolution in mid-May 2025.

Knobling announced his intention to step down from his post a year and a half ago, but despite his efforts, he was unable to find anyone willing to succeed him. At its best, the club had 40 members, but the number stagnated to 26, which led to a decline in interest in training and competition. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, perhaps they have to do with training times or the need to be active as part of the club.

The fascination of crossminton

Crossminton, formerly known as speed badminton, is an exciting mix of tennis, badminton and squash and offers the flexibility to play on different surfaces. How South Germans describes, it is played with a smaller gaming device, the “speeder”. The dimensions of the playing field are similar to a tennis court, although only the back 6.40 meters are used. Not only is Knobling a dedicated player, but he has also spent many years promoting crossminton in the region.

He put a lot of passion into organizing action days to bring the sport closer to passers-by and encourage them to try it out. Despite his efforts, interest from potential players remained rather modest. Many people see crossminton as a fringe sport, even though the fun and joy of the game cannot be denied. “It's easier than tennis,” is what you often hear from trial players on the monastery meadow.

A new path for Charly Knobling

After the club was dissolved, Knobling is now looking for new avenues. He is currently dedicating himself to padel tennis and may be planning to take part in the Crossminton World Championships in the Czech Republic in the over-60 category. As one of the best players, Knobling himself has achieved great success; In 2018 he was number two in the world rankings and has also won a championship title at the national level for several years. The Fürsty Speeders have also been present at international tournaments in the past, including in Tokyo, Oslo and Budapest.

It will be more difficult in the future for those interested in crossminton in the district because they will have to travel to Munich, Ulm or Poing to pursue their passion. The road is long, but perhaps the spirit of the Fürsty Speeders will continue to exist in some form.