Roy Henderson

Roy Henderson (7 June 1923 - 16 January 1997) was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper best known for his time with Dumfries club Queen of the South.

Roy Henderson was a native of Law. Henderson played for Carluke Amateurs, Lanark United, Third Lanark and guested for Aberdeen during the war. It was at Aberdeen where his talent blossomed when he was playing two games per week; one for Aberdeen and one for his army unit where he was the sergeant PT instructor.

Henderson's form attracted attention and with rumours of a prominent club from England showing interest Jimmy McKinnell Junior stepped in to sign him up at Palmerston Park.

Roy Henderson signed for Queens in July 1946 and from there he went on to have a career as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation. He was Jimmy McKinnell Junior's first signing for Queens.

Bold print sub headings in the press repeatedly give testament to his status among the best goalkeepers around at the time:-

• Goalkeeper defied Celtic
• Henderson v Hearts
• The 'Keeper who had Rangers at their wits end
• Brilliant work by Henderson

Henderson spent 11 seasons with Queen of the South. Thus Henderson's time at Queens would include:-

• Queens points of note in the late 1940s
• The 1950 Scottish Cup semi-final and other creditable Scottish Cup runs
• The 1950s and Queens best era

It was in 1950 Scottish Cup semi-final 1–1 draw against Rangers at Hampden Park where he had one of his finest hours. As one press article said, "The Henderson of the first half was not just another 'keeper having a good day. He was a man living his finest moment". Another reported, "It was not just the shutters that he put up – he practically bricked up his goal against the Rangers forwards".

Throughout Roy Henderson's time on the books as a Queen of the South player they would spend only one season out of the top division of Scottish football. That season was 1950–51 when they were promoted straight back to the top flight as Scottish B Division Champions. The success of that season was enhanced by a run to the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup.

In February 1951 Henderson's future in Dumfries came into doubt as Queens' directors considered a bid by Newcastle United. Henderson ended up staying with the club.

Roy Henderson's time at the club would mark the most successful period in the club's history. Henderson played in goal for Queen of the South in 381 first team matches and is 8th highest in the club's record appearances list.

Also at Queens at this time were the club's record scorer Jim Patterson and until July 1952 Scotland internationalist Billy Houliston. Goal scoring outside right Bobby Black joined Queens in 1952. Full backs Jimmy Binning and Dougie Sharpe were also there.

Many fans throughout Scotland felt Roy Henderson was best goalkeeper in the land with the press also reporting that he should be given his chance in the national team. It never happened. Many speculated that if he had played for a higher profile club then his international selection would have been a formality. Others suggested that Henderson's persona, always happy to engage in banter with fans behind his goal (on one occasion an orange was thrown at him to which his response was to nonchalantly peel the fruit and eat it), was not to the liking of the international selectors. Roy Henderson was selected six times as reserve keeper for the Scotland national team, but never selected to play ahead of Bobby Brown nor Jimmy Cowan. Henderson was alleged by many to be the best keeper never to play for Scotland. In one game with Henderson on stand by as reserve Cowan played with a broken finger in fear that Henderson would shine for Scotland and deny Cowan future selection.

With the 1956–57 season only four days old Queens played against Dunfermline Athletic in the League Cup. Roy Henderson rushed from his goal looking to thwart the advancing Charlie Dickson. The players collided. After receiving treatment Dickson was able to continue. Henderson was stretchered off with a broken leg. At that moment was the beginning of the decline of Queen of the South from their top division mid table status of the previous few seasons. Despite missing most of that season Henderson returned to action briefly but unable to regain full fitness he was forced to retire from playing football altogether.

In a poll in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard in 2004 (nearly 50 years after his career-ending injury) Henderson was voted the greatest ever Queens player.

Henderson died on 16 January 1997, aged 73 years old.

Henderson's wife Jean, who was in her early 90s, continued to live in Dumfries and was as an avid supporter of Queens, attending home matches during the 2015-16 season. She died in February 2017, two decades after Roy.