Background
Henderson was born in Hexham, Northumberland, later moving to nearby Allendale.
Henderson was born in Hexham, Northumberland, later moving to nearby Allendale.
He was previously on the books of Newcastle United and Carlisle United, but played for neither in the League. As a young boy, he was unable to walk for a year because of a paralytic illness. He began his football career as a junior with Newcastle United before signing for Carlisle United in 1950.
He played for Carlisle"s reserves in the North-Eastern League, but never played first-team football for them, and signed for Third Division North club Darlington in 1952.
He made his senior debut for Darlington on 17 September 1952, against Carlisle United, but after Ernie Devlin arrived from West Ham United in 1953 and was named captain, he played less frequently than in his first season. When Cliff Mason"s departure for Sheffield United in 1955 left a vacancy at full-back, Henderson became a permanent fixture in the position.
He injured his neck in the first match, in which Chelsea came back from 3–0 down at Stamford Bridge to draw 3–3, but had recovered in time for the replay four days later at Darlington"s Feethams ground. The score after 90 minutes was 1–1.
In the first nine minutes of extra time, Darlington scored three times to take the match 4–1.
He helped Darlington eliminate Crystal Palace and West Ham in the first two rounds of the 1960-1961 League Cup before facing Bolton Wanderers, whose team contained five international players, in the third. The attendance, of 21,023, remains a club record. He captained the club, and earned a reputation as a hard manitoba
On 4 January 1964, Henderson"s right leg was broken in two places during a match against Stockport County.
Neither man played professionally again. A Darlington XI played a strong Sunderland side in a testimonial match for Henderson at the end of the season.
While a Darlington player, Henderson had worked in sales for the club chairman"s car company. In later life he made occasional appearances in local football.
He settled in Darlington, and died there in 2001 at the age of 71.