Wayne Hennessey
Encyclopedia
Wayne Robert Hennessey is a Welsh
international
footballer who plays for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
as a goalkeeper.
, Gwynedd
, and raised in Beaumaris, Anglesey
, was educated at Ysgol David Hughes
and in 2001 he moved to Connah`s Quay High School due to easier traveling to Manchester at the time. Hennessey began as a trainee at Manchester City
but was released in 2003, whereupon he joined the youth academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers
. After progressing through the ranks, he signed professional forms in April 2005.
After remaining in Wolves' reserve and youth teams during the 2005–06 season, Hennessey was sent on trial with Bristol City
in July 2006 with a view to a loan move to gain first team experience but was recalled to Wolves after an injury to their first-choice goalkeeper Matt Murray
. He did go back to Bristol City in August 2006, however, on a one month loan deal, but he only made two appearances and returned to his parent club early due to an arm injury.
side Stockport County
in January 2007 on a one-month loan. On his senior debut against Boston United
, he kept a clean sheet and after keeping another five clean sheets in successive matches, his loan spell was extended by an extra month.
He went on to set a Football League
record of nine successive clean sheets and wins. Stockport broke the 119-year-old record, when they beat Swindon Town
3–0 on 3 March 2007. After this accomplishment, he was named the League Two Player of the Month for February 2007. His feat also means he now holds County's record for the longest period without conceding a goal, beating Harry Hardy
's 85-year-old record. His record now stands at 857 minutes, from the start of his competitive club debut, against Boston United
on 13 January 2007, until Oliver Allen of Barnet scored on 10 March 2007. He therefore did not concede in his first nine-and-a-half matches of competitive club football.
play-off semi-final first leg against local rivals West Bromwich Albion
, Hennessey stepped in to make his Wolves debut.
With Murray sidelined for the whole of the 2007–08 season with yet another injury, Hennessey became firmly established at the club's number one, being an ever-present in the league. The season also saw him sign a new deal which was due to keep him at Molineux
until summer 2012.
He was ranked 22nd in the Top 50 Football League Players by FourFourTwo
magazine, named in the 2007–08 PFA Championship Team of the Year as well as being named 2007–08 season Player of the Year for Wolves.
The 2008–09 season saw a strong start for Hennessey and Wolves with eight victories out of the first nine league games. This fine run ended against promotion rivals Reading
with a 3–0 loss begun by an own goal from Hennessey. Soon after manager Mick McCarthy
dropped him to the bench, citing mental fatigue as the reason. Reserve keeper Carl Ikeme deputised and impressed enough to leave Hennessey on the sidelines an injury ruled him out for the majority of the season. Hennessey then retained his place in goal for the remainder of the season which culminated with promotion to the Premier League as champions after a five year absence.
Hennessey began the club's 2009–10 Premier League campaign as first choice goalkeeper, making his 100th senior appearance for the club in a 2–2 draw at Stoke City
in October 2009. However after conceding four goals in two successive games, he was replaced by the more experienced Marcus Hahnemann
and remained on the bench for the rest of the season. Wolves survived relegation and Hennessey returned to the starting line-up in November 2010, with his good form for the rest of the season seeing him cement his place as the club's first-choice keeper.
He is signed for Wolves until summer 2015.
in a 2–2 friendly
draw against New Zealand on 26 May 2007 and has since established himself as his country's first-choice goalkeeper.
He has also been capped at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. He once scored for the Under-19 side with a 40-yard free kick against Turkey.
He is a cousin of 1960s Wales international Terry Hennessey
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
footballer who plays for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as a goalkeeper.
Early career
Hennessey, born in BangorBangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, and raised in Beaumaris, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, was educated at Ysgol David Hughes
Ysgol David Hughes
Ysgol David Hughes is the largest Secondary School in Anglesey, Wales. It was founded in 1603, originally as a free Grammar School in Beaumaris. In 1963, with the local authority leading the way in introducing the comprehensive system, the school moved to Menai Bridge as a mixed comprehensive...
and in 2001 he moved to Connah`s Quay High School due to easier traveling to Manchester at the time. Hennessey began as a trainee at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
but was released in 2003, whereupon he joined the youth academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. After progressing through the ranks, he signed professional forms in April 2005.
After remaining in Wolves' reserve and youth teams during the 2005–06 season, Hennessey was sent on trial with Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in July 2006 with a view to a loan move to gain first team experience but was recalled to Wolves after an injury to their first-choice goalkeeper Matt Murray
Matt Murray
Matthew William "Matt" Murray is an English former football goalkeeper who spent his entire career at Wolverhampton Wanderers. His career was plagued by injuries which eventually forced him to retire aged 29.-Career:...
. He did go back to Bristol City in August 2006, however, on a one month loan deal, but he only made two appearances and returned to his parent club early due to an arm injury.
Stockport County — record breaker
To gain first-team football, Hennessey joined League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in January 2007 on a one-month loan. On his senior debut against Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, he kept a clean sheet and after keeping another five clean sheets in successive matches, his loan spell was extended by an extra month.
He went on to set a Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
record of nine successive clean sheets and wins. Stockport broke the 119-year-old record, when they beat Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
3–0 on 3 March 2007. After this accomplishment, he was named the League Two Player of the Month for February 2007. His feat also means he now holds County's record for the longest period without conceding a goal, beating Harry Hardy
Harry Hardy
Henry "Harry" Hardy was a football player from Stockport, England, regarded as one of the best players that Stockport County have ever had. He was the first, and to date the only, player for Stockport County to win an England cap. Hardy made 207 appearances for Stockport...
's 85-year-old record. His record now stands at 857 minutes, from the start of his competitive club debut, against Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on 13 January 2007, until Oliver Allen of Barnet scored on 10 March 2007. He therefore did not concede in his first nine-and-a-half matches of competitive club football.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hennessey was recalled by Wolves in April 2007 after another injury to first-choice Matt Murray, and found himself on the substitutes bench for several games. When Murray broke his shoulder on the eve of Wolves' ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
play-off semi-final first leg against local rivals West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Hennessey stepped in to make his Wolves debut.
With Murray sidelined for the whole of the 2007–08 season with yet another injury, Hennessey became firmly established at the club's number one, being an ever-present in the league. The season also saw him sign a new deal which was due to keep him at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
until summer 2012.
He was ranked 22nd in the Top 50 Football League Players by FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo is a football magazine published by Haymarket. Published monthly, costing £4.50, and at about 164 pages long, it published its 200th edition in February 2011...
magazine, named in the 2007–08 PFA Championship Team of the Year as well as being named 2007–08 season Player of the Year for Wolves.
The 2008–09 season saw a strong start for Hennessey and Wolves with eight victories out of the first nine league games. This fine run ended against promotion rivals Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
with a 3–0 loss begun by an own goal from Hennessey. Soon after manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
dropped him to the bench, citing mental fatigue as the reason. Reserve keeper Carl Ikeme deputised and impressed enough to leave Hennessey on the sidelines an injury ruled him out for the majority of the season. Hennessey then retained his place in goal for the remainder of the season which culminated with promotion to the Premier League as champions after a five year absence.
Hennessey began the club's 2009–10 Premier League campaign as first choice goalkeeper, making his 100th senior appearance for the club in a 2–2 draw at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in October 2009. However after conceding four goals in two successive games, he was replaced by the more experienced Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
and remained on the bench for the rest of the season. Wolves survived relegation and Hennessey returned to the starting line-up in November 2010, with his good form for the rest of the season seeing him cement his place as the club's first-choice keeper.
He is signed for Wolves until summer 2015.
International career
Hennessey made his full international debut for WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a 2–2 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
draw against New Zealand on 26 May 2007 and has since established himself as his country's first-choice goalkeeper.
He has also been capped at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. He once scored for the Under-19 side with a 40-yard free kick against Turkey.
He is a cousin of 1960s Wales international Terry Hennessey
Terry Hennessey
William Terrence "Terry" Hennessey is a Welsh former international footballer who gained 39 caps for Wales. He played as a defender and made 400 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s with Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County.After his playing career, he managed a number...
.
Honours
- PFA Championship Team of the Year: 2008
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
(II): 2009
External links
- Wayne Hennessey profile at the Wolverhampton Wanderers website
- BBC Sport interview
- Wales profile