Henderson, Samuel

H | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Samuel Henderson
aka: Sam Henderson, Sonny Henderson, Sammy Henderson
Born: 25 Nov 1945
Birthplace: Garngad
Signed: 23 February 1962
Left: 31 January 1968
Position: Right-Half
Debut: Celtic 1-0 Dundee United, League, 19 February 1964
Internationals: none

Biog

Sam Henderson attended St.Mungo’s Academy in Glasgow (a school that many Celtic players including Tommy McInally went to), and was the Captain of their school first eleven football side.

He was a highly-rated junior when he joined Celtic from Ashfield in February 1962. His manager at Ashfield (Louis Boyle) even rated him as a better prospect than Paddy Crerand.

The Garngad-born teenager would only go on to play two senior games for the Celtic first team with his debut coming in a 1-0 league victory over Dundee United on 19th February 1964, a match in which he showed promise but also inexperience and left gaps at the back. He played the next week too, as Celtic went on to win 2-0 v Airdrie in atrocious blizzard conditions.

As Celtic entered a golden era, the young wing-half Sam Henderson failed to force his way into the first team picture as he was competing for Bobby Murdoch’s position, an impossible task.

So in January 1968, he joined Stirling Albion for £5,000, and later Clydebank for £20k. At the same time, Paddy Crerand was on his way to win the European Cup with Manchester Utd a few months later.

Sadly, Sam Henderson’s playing career was ended by cartilage trouble.

He moved onto the coaching staff with Clydebank in 1976, and became their manager helping Clydebank to promotion to the top tier in 1985. He resigned in 1988.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

• Player Pics