Rudi Hedman

Biography

Rudi Hedman is the right-sided defender who played for us when we came up to the GM Vauxhall Conference in 1994. Such was his flexibility, however, that he could also line up next to Efetobore Sodje in the centre. In his two-campaign stay with us, Hedman was the driving force down our right-hand flank. Not only did he help us claim the 1993-4 Diadora League Premier Division title, but establish ourselves in the Conference that next year.

After leaving us at the end of the 1994-5 season, he went to play in Hong Kong for a now-defunct club called Sing Tao. Don’t confuse this with the Chinese beer brand, by the way.

Rudi Hedman: Before Boro’

Hedman came from Dulwich Hamlet during the early part of the 1993-4 season; lining up for his debut against St Albans City in mid-September. Before that, however, there was a long career to look back on in the Football League. For much of the 1980s, the defender turned out for Colchester United; clocking up around 200-odd outings at Layer Road. But this also includes a loan spell with the Us after signing for Crystal Palace in 1988.

To be honest, opportunities at Palace were somewhat limited; though he did play for them five times in their promotion-winning 1988-9 season. Three of those appearances are said to have come in the four playoff games that got them into the top flight. Hedman was also part of the Palace squad for their famous FA Cup semi-final win against Liverpool in 1990. But, alas, he didn’t feature in the final. And that’s maybe why they lost?

With thanks to Ian Logan and Paulio