Marcel Grote looks back on an impressive career in amateur soccer in the Ruhr region. He is now a German national champion in bowling.
Throughout his career, Marcel Grote has played for numerous amateur soccer clubs in the Ruhr region. Now 42 years old, he has played over 170 games in the Oberliga Niederrhein, nearly 30 matches in the Regionalliga West, and even two games in the DFB Cup.
But what is the former player for Velbert, Speldorf, Wuppertal, and Schonnebeck doing today?
Today, after retiring from active soccer, Grote has dedicated himself entirely to his second great passion: bowling. “I’m very committed to the sport of bowling and am currently the first chairman of SK Heiligenhaus. We’ve won the German championship twice, the World Cup once, and are once again at the top of the standings this season,” reports Grote.
Despite his successful bowling career, Grote’s heart still beats for soccer. Most recently, he was still between the posts for the second team of SuS Haarzopf. That will remain the case: “My player registration is still with SuS Haarzopf, and that’s where it will stay. Starting next year, however, I’ll be playing for the veterans’ team.”
Skittles, however, is by no means new to Grote’s life. His parents were among the co-founders of the Heiligenhaus Skittles Club, so he was familiar with the sport and the weekly match days from a young age.
Skittles match days were on Saturdays, soccer games on Sundays. The weekend was always completely booked up, but it made me happy
Marcel Grote
Even during his active career as a goalkeeper, he played skittles at a high level: “Skittles match days were on Saturdays, soccer matches on Sundays. The weekend was always completely booked up, but it made me happy.”
Grote explains how much dedication and professionalism the sport of bowling requires: “The farthest we have to travel in the Bundesliga is to the Saarland. You drive for several hours, bowl for many hours, and then drive back again. The entire Saturday is set aside for that.”
But he’s happy to put in the effort: “We have an outstanding team that’s just incredibly fun to be with. The time spent with the team is something very special.”
However, these trips are by no means comparable to typical local league bowling trips: “There are referees who make sure no alcohol is consumed. On the way there, we’re focused and tense. The trips back after a win are all the more fun, though.”
A special highlight in Grote’s bowling career is now on the horizon. He is part of the German national team. In early 2026, he’ll have the chance to secure one of the eight spots on the World Championship roster during a training camp.