Erich Schaedler
association football player
- August 6, 1949 · Scottish Borders
- December 24, 1985 · Cardrona Forest
- 36 years
- suicide
About Erich Schaedler
Erich Schaedler, 36, Scottish footballer, suicide.
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60 Seconds Life Story

Erich Schaedler was a determined Scottish professional footballer whose career left a lasting mark on the
Erich Schaedler
1949 – 1985
60 Seconds: Erich Schaedler's Life Story
A brief overview of the career and life of Scottish professional footballer Erich Schaedler.
Transcript
Erich Schaedler was a determined Scottish professional footballer whose career left a lasting mark on the sport. Born in 1949, he began his journey at Stirling Albion before joining Hibernian in 1969. He became a key member of the celebrated Turnbull's Tornadoes side, winning the League Cup and two Drybrough Cups. Beyond his club success, he earned a cap for Scotland and was part of the 1974 World Cup squad. Later, he showcased his character off the pitch, receiving a bravery award from the police for confronting an armed man at his pub. Tragically, Schaedler’s life ended by suicide on Christmas Eve in 1985 while in Cardrona Forest. He remained a dedicated athlete until his final days at age thirty-six.
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Full Biography
|Erich Peter Schaedler (6 August 1949 – 24 December 1985), nicknamed "Shades", was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left back. Schaedler was the son of a German POW.
Born in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Schaedler started his career at Stirling Albion in 1969 before moving to Hibernian later that year. It was at Easter Road that he would enjoy his greatest success, forming part of the "Turnbull's Tornadoes" side that won the Drybrough Cup then League Cup in 1972–73, and the Drybrough Cup in 1973–74. This side also finished second in the Scottish League in consecutive seasons.
Schaedler was awarded his only Scotland cap during this period, against West Germany. He was selected in the squad for the 1974 FIFA World Cup but did not play in the tournament.
Schaedler moved to Dundee in 1977, where he won a First Division championship in 1978–79. He returned to Hibs in 1981, playing for four seasons before moving to Dumbarton. By 1984, he was running a public house, Shades, on Easter Road, Edinburgh, receiving a bravery award from Lothian and Borders Police in December 1984 when he and two police constables (who also received awards) confronted a man carrying a loaded shotgun at the pub. Schaedler was still playing senior football when he committed suicide at the age of 36 on Christmas Eve 1985 in the Cardrona Forest.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Schaedler
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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