Ferdinand Zajons

Ferdinand Zajons learnt to play football at local rivals SC Gelsenkirchen 07, and the talent of the trained miner did not go undiscovered. In 1928, the left-back joined the miners at Schalke Market. He was one of the 14 players who were banned by the West German Football Association for paying too much hand money (click here for the story).

After the ban was lifted in the spring of 1931, Zojans developed into an important back-up for the team. He and his team made it to the final round of the German championship five times. He was there in 1934 when the Knappen won it for the first time with a 2:1 victory against 1. FC Nürnberg.

The following season, he left the club halfway through the season. It is not entirely clear where he went after that. What is certain is that he was later called up for military service. He was so badly wounded that he lost a leg. After the war, he returned to Schalke. He lived in the district until the end of his life in 1987. His final resting place can still be found today in the Cemetery "Am Stäfflingshof".