A Proud Tradition
Credit:
ExtraTime kindly asked me to write a few columns over the next few months which I am delighted to do. Over this period I will be discussing many issues related to the league in terms of matches, part-time football, full-time football, management and many other aspects that I hope you will find interesting. Just to get us started today’s column is a background on myself and my family association with LOI football.
As you would expect, I have a huge amount of respect for my father Paddy Henderson. It was he who got us all hooked on football from a very early age. I was not born when he played for Shamrock Rovers between 1961 and 1965 after he returned from Welsh side Hollyhead United. Winning the FAI cup in 1962 with the Hoops is something he rightly cherishes to this day. At the end of the 1965 season Paddy moved to Drogheda United before retiring with a back injury in 1967.
My brother Dave started his LOI career back in the late 70s when he turned down a move to Coventry City in order to join Johnny Giles’ ambitious full time plans at Shamrock Rovers. Dave would return to Rovers again later in his career but his heart will always be with 2 clubs: St Patrick’s Athletic, where he was part of Brian Kerr’s team that won the league in 1991, and Bohemians, where he now works closely with Pat Fenlon under various guises. People in the know would agree that Dave has been one of the best goalkeepers to play in LOI football.
My brother Robert never played at LOI level, maybe because he was not a goalkeeper. Rob was a very talented centre-forward who would top the goal scoring charts at every level he played at. Unfortunately Rob’s temperament was not the best, especially around referees, as he kept getting himself sent off which ultimately led to him retiring at the grand old age of 18. It was a pity because he had the talent to play at a higher level.
In 1984, I was the next Hendo to step into LOI football. I was 18 when I made my debut in a pre season friendly for Johnny Byrne’s Shelbourne against Irish League giants Glentoran at the Oval stadium in Belfast. This was the beginning of a journey, and I mean a long journey, that would take me north, south, east and west to play the game I absolutely loved playing. These experiences would stand me well for the position I hold today as Manager of Waterford United.
I have had the privilege of playing for and learning from some great managers. People like Billy Young, Turlough O’Connor, Roy Coyle, Georgie Mellerick, Billy Hamilton and Pat Byrne are just some of the real and proper football people whom you cannot help but learn from.
As you would expect, I have a huge amount of respect for my father Paddy Henderson. It was he who got us all hooked on football from a very early age. I was not born when he played for Shamrock Rovers between 1961 and 1965 after he returned from Welsh side Hollyhead United. Winning the FAI cup in 1962 with the Hoops is something he rightly cherishes to this day. At the end of the 1965 season Paddy moved to Drogheda United before retiring with a back injury in 1967.
My brother Dave started his LOI career back in the late 70s when he turned down a move to Coventry City in order to join Johnny Giles’ ambitious full time plans at Shamrock Rovers. Dave would return to Rovers again later in his career but his heart will always be with 2 clubs: St Patrick’s Athletic, where he was part of Brian Kerr’s team that won the league in 1991, and Bohemians, where he now works closely with Pat Fenlon under various guises. People in the know would agree that Dave has been one of the best goalkeepers to play in LOI football.
My brother Robert never played at LOI level, maybe because he was not a goalkeeper. Rob was a very talented centre-forward who would top the goal scoring charts at every level he played at. Unfortunately Rob’s temperament was not the best, especially around referees, as he kept getting himself sent off which ultimately led to him retiring at the grand old age of 18. It was a pity because he had the talent to play at a higher level.
In 1984, I was the next Hendo to step into LOI football. I was 18 when I made my debut in a pre season friendly for Johnny Byrne’s Shelbourne against Irish League giants Glentoran at the Oval stadium in Belfast. This was the beginning of a journey, and I mean a long journey, that would take me north, south, east and west to play the game I absolutely loved playing. These experiences would stand me well for the position I hold today as Manager of Waterford United.
I have had the privilege of playing for and learning from some great managers. People like Billy Young, Turlough O’Connor, Roy Coyle, Georgie Mellerick, Billy Hamilton and Pat Byrne are just some of the real and proper football people whom you cannot help but learn from.
