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Fullname: John Neil Henderson
aka: Jock Henderson, John Henderson
Born: 1 November 1874 [needs confirmed]
Died: 30 August 1930 [needs confirmed]
Birthplace: Dumfries
Signed: Christmas 1895
Left: 3 May 1897 (to Victoria Utd)
Position: Inside Forward
Debut: Celtic 4-1 Clyde, League, 12 Dec 1896
Internationals: N/A
International Caps:N/A
Biog![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/1449bdf78332c55589e9c2f76773ced9 "[Untitled]")
Dumfries-born John Henderson signed for Celtic in December 1895 and played in a friendly match at Bury on Christmas Day.
His competitive debut came almost a year later when on 12th December 1896, he helped Celtic to a 4-1 home league victory over Clyde. In total the inside-right made four appearances for the Bhoys in the league & Cup, but he played a number of games also for Celtic in the Glasgow League.
One of his matches was the infamous defeat to lowly Arthurlie in the Scottish Cup, one of the most embarrassing defeats in the club’s history.
Celtic had hit very poor form in the second half of the 1896/97 season with some shambolic defeats. However, John Henderson did score a winning goal v Third Lanark in a 1-0 win and another goal in a 1-1 draw with Rangers, both games in the Glasgow League, and these helped the first team out.
He also later played for Celtic in a Glasgow Charity Cup defeat to Rangers in May 1897.
Soon after, he moved to Victoria United of Aberdeen in May 1897 as Celtic had to refreshen after the embarrassment of the Scottish Cup exit.
A year later, he tried his luck in England with Lincoln City of the Second Division, making his Football League debut on 1 September 1898 in a 1-0 win at home to Barnsley.
After scoring 10 goals in 82 appearances in all competitions (9 in 76 in the league), John Henderson joined Leicester Fosse in December 1900, but stayed only three months before moving on to Small Heath. The club had hoped his arrival would strengthen their push for promotion, but he played only four times before returning home.
Henderson played out his career in Scottish football, apart from a short spell with Carlisle United in the Lancashire Combination, continuing until at least his late thirties.
His elder brother James Henderson played for Rangers (as well as Notts County & Arsenal) and against Celtic in August 1889.
John Henderson was a tobacconist in Dumfries after leaving football, and died in Maxwelltown, Dumfries, in 1930. [needs confirmed; death date & date of birth not confirmed if all correct, see http://celticgraves.com/topic/9738701/1/]
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1895-97 | 3 | 1 | N/A | N/A | 4 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |
| Years | Club | Apps (Gls)† |
| 18xx-1895 | 5th Kirkcudbright Rifle Volunteers | 0? (?) |
| 1895-1897 | Celtic | 0? (?) |
| 1897-1898 | Victoria United | 0? (?) |
| 1898-1900 | Lincoln City | 76 (9) |
| 1900-1901 | Leicester Fosse | 13 (0) |
| 1901-1902 | Small Heath | 04 (0) |
| 1902-1905 | Maxwelltown Volunteers | 0? (?) |
| 1905-1906 | Carlisle United | 0? (?) |
| 1906-1910 | Maxwelltown Volunteers | 0? (?) |
| 1910 | Annan United | 0? (?) |
| 1910-19xx | Nithsdale Wanderers | 0? (?) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | ||
| † Appearances (Goals). | ||
Honours with Celtic
none