Dave Henderson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Dave Henderson is a former Irish
professional footballer
goalkeeper who played in the League of Ireland
from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. He also played two seasons in the North American Soccer League
.
. Mainly a reserve goalkeeper, he made his League of Ireland
debut on the 25 April 1978 and impressed enough to be called into the Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team, earning two caps in 1979. Also in 1979, Henderson spent his the summer on loan to the Toronto Blizzard
of the North American Soccer League
. Henderson returned to Shamrock Rovers and soon established himself in the first team. From 1977 to 1981 he made 35 league appearances, keeping 20 clean sheets. He also played one game in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
.
In 1981, Johnny Giles
signed him for the Vancouver Whitecaps
and he helped them win the Northwest Division, before losing in the play off first round game to Tampa Bay Rowdies.
On returning to Ireland, Henderson joined St. Patrick's Athletic, making his debut against Home Farm on 22 November 1981. He won his first trophy, the Leinster Senior Cup
in December 1982, before leaving for Home Farm F.C.
in November of 1984. He spent two uneventful seasons at Home Farm before signing for Drogheda United
in 1986. Throughout the 1980s, Henderson had been a regular member of the League of Ireland representative squad. When the FAI
were asked by the Olympic Council of Ireland
to put forward a team to attempt qualification for the 1988 Olympic Games
, Henderson would add Olympic caps to his league and U21 honours.
In 1987 Henderson was signed by Brian Kerr (football manager) for his second spell with St. Patrick's Athletic. In his first year back, St. Pats finished in second place. Two years later they went one better, winning the club's first League of Ireland
championship in thirty-four years. A feature of Henderson's time with St. Pats would be his enforced absence from game due to work commitments. Henderson was a full time fireman
and often called away at short notice. In 1990/91 he added a further Leinster Senior Cup medal and a Presidents Cup winners medal (where he saved three penalties in the deciding penalty shoot-out. Unfortunately for St. Pats they hit a severe financial crisis and most of their championship winning team left. Henderson joined Mick Moody
and John McDonnell
in joining Shamrock Rovers.
Henderson stayed with Shamrock Rovers for only season, making 31 appearances and keeping 14 clean sheets, before joining crosstown rivals Bohemians
with whom he finished top of the league table in his first season, 1992/93. However, as the League rules stated a title could not be won on goal difference, Bohemians were forced into a play-off with Shelbourne
and Cork City, with Cork coming out on top after 9 games. Henderson would continue to play for Bohemians until his retirement in 1998. His last game was a 1-0 win over Finn Harps
on 22 February 1998. He came close to adding another title in 1995/96 before eventually losing out to St. Patrick's Athletic.
played for Shamrock Rovers
in the 1960s (winning the FAI Cup
in 1962), son Sam is currently playing at schoolboy level in DDSL, brother Stephen Henderson (footballer born 1966)
played and managed in the League of Ireland football and Wayne plays for English club, Preston North End. Wayne is a Republic of Ireland
senior international.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper who played in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. He also played two seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
Career
In 1978, Henderson began his career with Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
. Mainly a reserve goalkeeper, he made his League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut on the 25 April 1978 and impressed enough to be called into the Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team, earning two caps in 1979. Also in 1979, Henderson spent his the summer on loan to the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. Henderson returned to Shamrock Rovers and soon established himself in the first team. From 1977 to 1981 he made 35 league appearances, keeping 20 clean sheets. He also played one game in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
.
In 1981, Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
signed him for the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
and he helped them win the Northwest Division, before losing in the play off first round game to Tampa Bay Rowdies.
On returning to Ireland, Henderson joined St. Patrick's Athletic, making his debut against Home Farm on 22 November 1981. He won his first trophy, the Leinster Senior Cup
Leinster Senior Cup
This is a disambiguation page. Leinster Senior Cup may refer to:* Leinster Club Senior Cup: rugby union* Leinster Schools Senior Cup: rugby union* Leinster Senior Cup...
in December 1982, before leaving for Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
in November of 1984. He spent two uneventful seasons at Home Farm before signing for Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
in 1986. Throughout the 1980s, Henderson had been a regular member of the League of Ireland representative squad. When the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
were asked by the Olympic Council of Ireland
Olympic Council of Ireland
The Olympic Council of Ireland or OCI is the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Ireland. Its mission is "to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Ireland, in accordance with the International Olympic Committee’s guiding document — the Olympic Charter."-History:After the First...
to put forward a team to attempt qualification for the 1988 Olympic Games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, Henderson would add Olympic caps to his league and U21 honours.
In 1987 Henderson was signed by Brian Kerr (football manager) for his second spell with St. Patrick's Athletic. In his first year back, St. Pats finished in second place. Two years later they went one better, winning the club's first League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
championship in thirty-four years. A feature of Henderson's time with St. Pats would be his enforced absence from game due to work commitments. Henderson was a full time fireman
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and often called away at short notice. In 1990/91 he added a further Leinster Senior Cup medal and a Presidents Cup winners medal (where he saved three penalties in the deciding penalty shoot-out. Unfortunately for St. Pats they hit a severe financial crisis and most of their championship winning team left. Henderson joined Mick Moody
Mick Moody
Mick Moody was an Irish soccer player during the 1980s and 1990s.-Career:Moody was a tough defender who began his career in 1979 at Shelbourne...
and John McDonnell
John McDonnell (footballer)
John McDonnell is an Irish football former manager and player and current assistant manager of the Faroe Islands national football team....
in joining Shamrock Rovers.
Henderson stayed with Shamrock Rovers for only season, making 31 appearances and keeping 14 clean sheets, before joining crosstown rivals Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
with whom he finished top of the league table in his first season, 1992/93. However, as the League rules stated a title could not be won on goal difference, Bohemians were forced into a play-off with Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
and Cork City, with Cork coming out on top after 9 games. Henderson would continue to play for Bohemians until his retirement in 1998. His last game was a 1-0 win over Finn Harps
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
on 22 February 1998. He came close to adding another title in 1995/96 before eventually losing out to St. Patrick's Athletic.
Personal
Henderson is a member of an Irish goalkeeping dynasty. Father Paddy Henderson (footballer)Paddy Henderson (footballer)
Paddy Henderson is a former Irish football player who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Paddy began his career at Holyhead Town in Wales before signing for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers F.C...
played for Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
in the 1960s (winning the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
in 1962), son Sam is currently playing at schoolboy level in DDSL, brother Stephen Henderson (footballer born 1966)
Stephen Henderson (footballer born 1966)
Stephen Henderson is an Irish football manager and former player who played as a goalkeeper.-Personal life:Henderson comes from a goalkeeping family, his father, Paddy Henderson, was a League of Ireland goalkeeper, as was his brother Dave Henderson, while his younger brother Wayne Henderson is a...
played and managed in the League of Ireland football and Wayne plays for English club, Preston North End. Wayne is a Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
senior international.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- St Patrick's Athletic - 1990
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Senior Cup (football)The Leinster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organised by the Leinster Football Association. It contested by the top League of Ireland sides based in the province in Leinster along with four Leinster Senior League sides and the two Leinster Junior Cup finalists. The Cup was...
- St Patrick's Athletic - 1983, 1991, 1993
- LFA Presidents Cup
- St Patrick's Athletic - 1991