Dave Henderson (footballer)

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Dave Henderson (born June 11, 1960 in Dublin), is a former professional footballer. Henderson was a goalkeeper and who played in the League of Ireland from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. He also played in the North American Soccer League for two seasons. Dave Henderson is a member of an Irish goalkeeping dynasty. Father Paddy played for Shamrock Rovers in the 1960s (winning the FAI Cup in 1962), brother Stephen played League of Ireland football in the 1990s (and is currently manager of Cobh Ramblers) and youngest Henderson sibling Wayne plays for Brighton and Hove Albion. Wayne recently made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland

[edit] Career

Henderson began his career with Shamrock Rovers in 1978. He was mainly the reserve goalkeeper but made his League of Ireland debut on the 25th of April and impressed enough to be called into the Republic of Ireland Under 21 side and he earned two caps in 1979. Also in 1979, Hendeson spent his first summer playing in the NASL, siging for the Toronto Blizzard. Henderson return to Shamrock Rovers and soon established himself in the first team. 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, where he won his first trophy, the Leinster Senior Cup in December 1982, before leaving for Home Farm F.C. in the summer of 1983.

He spent three 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 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 34 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 og 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 before joining crosstown rivals Bohemians with whom he finished top of the league table in hist 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. He came close to adding another title in 1995/96 before eventually losing out to St. Patrick's Athletic. Well into his late 30s Henderson was still being picked for League of Ireland representative teams.