East Cemetery

The graves of the unknown team captains

For two of Schalke's great captains, the journey of their lives ended here at the East Cemetery. Although they were made honorary captains of the club, they are almost complete forgotten today. In addition to Thomas Student and Hermann Eppenhoff, a third, better-known team captain found his final resting place here. But only for a short time.

Thomas Student was already playing for the club when it still bore the name given to it by its founding fathers of the House of Goor. In 1916, he became the club's first team captain. After the move to the Glückauf stadium, he handed over the armband to his successor Ernst Kuzorra. However, Student made his mark for Schalke off the pitch. In 1920, the German Ballmann brothers returned to the Ruhr region after a childhood and youth spent in England. From there, the two brought the Scottish short passing game with them. The clubs courted the brothers, as their knowledge could give them a huge competitive advantage. They decided in favour of Schalke. The club provided them with a flat and a job at the kitchen appliance manufacturer Küppersbusch. Thomas Student's job was to shield them from competing offers. He brought them to work every day and picked them up again after work. Student was successful, and the Ballmann brothers' short passing game gave rise to the Schalker Kreisel.

Hermann Eppenhoff's contribution to the club was to carry the legacy of Szepan and Kuzorra into the 1950s. Eppenhoff was almost a child when the slim boy from Wanne-Eickel joined FC Schalke 04 at the age of 19. Nevertheless, he made his mark in the three-time champion team. Eppenhoff striked in the 1939, 1940 and 1942 championships as part of the Schalker Kreisel. His life then took him to the Eastern Front and into Russian captivity. Only in 1949 did he return to the Schalker Markt. The calm and level-headed Eppenhoff became a role model for the new generation of Schalke players. As the new Knappen captain, he led his boys to the West German championship in 1951. He continuously worked on building up the team. On 22 December 1956, after 271 games and 146 goals, Eppenhoff bid farewell to the crowd at the Glückauf stadium. On the pitch, he handed the captain's armband to his successor Bernie Klodt. The torch of the Kreisel was now in the hands of the new generation.

GRAVESITES OF FAMOUS SCHALKERS

Hermann EppenhoffThomas Student
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