Geordie Henderson
Encyclopedia
George Donald 'Geordie' Henderson (15 April 1897 – 14 June 1953) was a Scottish
football
centre forward
who played professionally in Scotland and briefly in the United States, England and Wales. He saw his greatest success with Rangers
in the 1920s but was never capped at international level despite an excellent club scoring record.
and began his professional career with hometown club Forfar Athletic
. Towards the end of the 1910s, he played briefly with Dundee
before joining Rangers
in November 1919.
His debut with Rangers came in a league match on 20 March 1920 against Aberdeen
and his first goal came a fortnight later on 3 April against Airdrieonians
. Henderson was top scorer at Rangers for four consecutive seasons
from 1921–22 until 1924–25 (the latter season being his most productive, netting 32 times). He played a total of 195 first class games (170 league, 25 Scottish Cup
) and scored 142 goals (123 league and 19 cup). During his eight year spell at Ibrox
he amassed four League championships
, four Glasgow Cups and two Charity Cups.
He left Rangers
to join English Second Division
club Darlington
in January 1927, where he made 14 appearances, scoring six goals as Darlington ended the season in 21st place and were relegated to the Third Division North
. In the autumn of 1927, he left Britain and signed with the New York Nationals of the American Soccer League
. The Nationals finished third in league play, but won the 1928 National Challenge Cup
in a two game final against the Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
of Chicago. The first game ended in a 1–1 tie after extra time, but the Nationals, on the strength of two Henderson goals, won the replay 3–0. In 1928, Henderson returned to Scotland where he signed with Dundee United
. He spent only two seasons there, winning the 1928–29 Second Division championship, before transferring to Rhyl
in the Welsh Birmingham and District League.
After his retirement he owned a pub
in Dundee
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
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...
centre forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in Scotland and briefly in the United States, England and Wales. He saw his greatest success with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the 1920s but was never capped at international level despite an excellent club scoring record.
Football career
Henderson was born in ForfarForfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
and began his professional career with hometown club Forfar Athletic
Forfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
. Towards the end of the 1910s, he played briefly with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
before joining Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in November 1919.
His debut with Rangers came in a league match on 20 March 1920 against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and his first goal came a fortnight later on 3 April against Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. Henderson was top scorer at Rangers for four consecutive seasons
Rangers F.C. seasons
This is a list of seasons played by Rangers Football Club in Scottish and European football, from 1890 to the present day. It details the club's achievements in major competitions, and the top scorers for each season.-Overview:...
from 1921–22 until 1924–25 (the latter season being his most productive, netting 32 times). He played a total of 195 first class games (170 league, 25 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
) and scored 142 goals (123 league and 19 cup). During his eight year spell at Ibrox
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
he amassed four League championships
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, four Glasgow Cups and two Charity Cups.
He left Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
to join English Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
club Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in January 1927, where he made 14 appearances, scoring six goals as Darlington ended the season in 21st place and were relegated to the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. In the autumn of 1927, he left Britain and signed with the New York Nationals of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. The Nationals finished third in league play, but won the 1928 National Challenge Cup
1928 National Challenge Cup
The 1928 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:-Final:...
in a two game final against the Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
Bricklayers and Masons F.C.
Bricklayers and Masons F.C., also known as Chicago Bricklayers, was a U.S. soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois which joined that city's Association Football League in 1914. Over the next twenty years, Bricklayers won two Peel Cups and was the runner up in the 1928 and 1931 National Challenge...
of Chicago. The first game ended in a 1–1 tie after extra time, but the Nationals, on the strength of two Henderson goals, won the replay 3–0. In 1928, Henderson returned to Scotland where he signed with Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. He spent only two seasons there, winning the 1928–29 Second Division championship, before transferring to Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
in the Welsh Birmingham and District League.
After his retirement he owned a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
.
Rangers
- Scottish League Division One: 4
-
- 1920–21, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25
New York Nationals
- National Challenge CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
: 1
-
- 19281928 National Challenge CupThe 1928 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:-Final:...
- 1928
Dundee United
- Scottish League Division TwoScottish Football League First DivisionThe Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
: 1
-
- 1928–29