Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland | Name Jackie Henderson | |
Full name John Gillespie Henderson Date of birth (1932-01-17)17 January 1932 Date of death 26 January 2005(2005-01-26) (aged 73) Playing position | ||
Place of death Poole, Dorset, England | ||
Jackie henderson 50th birthday party
John Gillespie Henderson (17 January 1932 – 26 January 2005) was a Scottish international footballer, who played in the Football League for Portsmouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal and Fulham.
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Club career
Henderson was born in Glasgow in 1932. He started playing football as a youth with his Bishopbriggs based church team, as well thereafter for his first club, being that of Kirkintilloch Boys Club. With this being so, he went on to sign for Portsmouth as a talented 17-year-old. He eventually made his debut for the first team against Sunderland in January 1951. At first featuring as a centre forward, he also subsequently played as an inside forward and left-winger for Pompey. Henderson feats with Portsmouth soon attracted the attention of those at the Scotland footballing helm. A physical player known for his pace, fast crosses and good two feet, he was a regular goalscorer for Pompey for his seven years at and away from Fratton Park.
Henderson moved on in March 1958 to that of Wolverhampton Wanderers for £30,000. Wolves won the First Division title that season but Henderson did not qualify for a medal. He began the following season still at Molineux, appearing in a handful of early games in what would be another championship-winning campaign. With this being said, Henderson, whilst at and away from the Molineux, was capped a total of only nine times in all for Wolves.
As he was unable to hold down a first team place, he moved on to Arsenal in October 1958 for £30,000, and made his debut against West Bromwich Albion at Highbury on 4 October, where he scored twice in a thrilling 4–3 win. With injury marring his team appearances he altogether still scored twelve times in his first season with the Gunners where Arsenal garnered third place wherein the league. Henderson thus became a regular in the first-team in the following 1959–60 and 1960–61 seasons.
Swindin's tinkering with the Arsenal attacking line-up meant the versatile Henderson was unable to assure any particular position in the side. As this was so, midway through the 1961–62 season Henderson was transferred to Fulham for £15,000. He had played 111 games for Arsenal in total, scoring 29 goals.
In his first season at Craven Cottage, Henderson helped Fulham get to the FA Cup semi-final of 1962 where they lost narrowly to that of Burnley F.C.. Henderson also helped keep the Cottagers up for two seasons, being 1961-62 and 1962-63, within the First Division. He was a regular for the Fulham up until March 1963, when he suffered a broken leg. Despite an attempted comeback, he was unfruitful with such and thus left the club in 1964. He continued to play for teams, firstly Poole Town F.C. and Dorchester Town afterward, until his retirement from football in 1971.
Personal life
Henderson was also married with two sons from such. After his playing days ended, he left the game completely to settle in Dorset, where he worked for a local builders' merchant. He died in 2005, at the age of 73.
International career
Henderson made his international debut in a friendly at home to Sweden on 6 May 1953, which Scotland lost 2–1. He was then included within Scotland's 22-man 1954 World Cup squad. Scotland decided to take only 13 of the 22 to the finals with Henderson staying at home on reserve with the likes of Bobby Combe and Jimmy Binning. Inside forward George Hamilton was also on reserve but travelled after Bobby Johnstone withdrew through injury. Henderson's only goal for Scotland came in a 3–1 win over Northern Ireland on 3 October 1953. His final cap for Scotland came against Northern Ireland on 5 November 1958, which Scotland drew 2–2. He in all was capped seven times for the Tartan Terriers.