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Fullname: Samuel Henderson
aka: Sam Henderson, Sonny Henderson, Sammy Henderson
Born: 25 November 1944
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, where he stayed for a long career, and the later moved to 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. This included managing & coaching a young Frank McAvennie, who was still a red head at this time before he discovered blonde hair dye.
He resigned in 1988, as outside business pressures led to him having to give up his position with the club ending a fifteen year association.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1962-68 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Goals | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Articles
Sammy Henderson – Biog
https://www.clydebankfc.co.uk/manager.php?id=6
Sammy Henderson is a significant figure in the rise of Clydebank FC in the mid-1970s through the 1980s as both a player and manager. On Celtic’s books as a youngster, Sammy spent seven years at Stirling Albion before joining up at Kilbowie in 1973.
The beginnings of the great Clydebank side were starting to come together and Sam’s final season as a player saw the club lift the Second Division Championship in 1976. Sam Immediately joined Bill Munro’s backroom staff as the club made it two successive promotions to play in the Premier League for the first time.
With the loss of Davie Cooper and Mike Larnach, Clydebank were inevitably relegated back to the first Division. After failing narrowly to return to the Premier League in the following two seasons, the Bankies began to decline a little. At the start of the 1981-82 season after an indifferent League Cup campaign, Bill Munro surprisingly handed in his resignation. Sammy Henderson immediately took over for the next game and the position was soon made permanent.
Over the next few years the Bankies were regular promotion candidates, and finally succeeded in season 1984-85 finishing as runners-up to Motherwell. Once again, life in the Premier League was tough for the Bankies but memorable victories over Rangers and Aberdeen were achieved.
The Bankies had an abysmal start to the 1987-88 season,but recovered to finish in third position in the league, but with only one promotion spot available Clydebank were never truly at the races.
This was to be Sam’s final season with the club as outside business pressures led to him having to give up his position with the club ending a fifteen year association.
Football Hall of Fame beckons
https://web.archive.org/web/20140522165215/http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/12/16/408266-football-hall-of-fame-beckons
Published: 16 Dec 2010 13:00
Clydebank FC is inducting two of its greatest managers into its Hall of Fame.
LEGEND: Sammy Henderson
Bill Munro, who was manager from 1975 until 1982, and Sammy Henderson, who was manager from 1982 until 1988, are both revered at the club for their part in getting Clydebank FC into the Scottish Premier League during their respective reigns.
Bill’s side was promoted in 1977 and Sammy Henderson’s team reached the top flight in 1985.
Bill Abraham, Clydebank FC’s director, told the Post: “Bill Munro and Sammy Henderson had very successful periods in their team’s history – that is why they are being inducted.”
The sportman’s dinner is being held on March 12 in the Goodyear Club, Drumchapel.
Some big names have been booked to keep everyone entertained and help raise funds for the club.
Football favourite Frank McAvennie, as well as comedian Joe Camay and popular speaker Bill Copeland, will feature.