Billy Hendry

William Harold Hendry (20 June 1869 – 4 May 1901) was a Scottish footballer who played as a defender. Born in Newport-on-Tay he played in the Football League for Bury, Preston North End, Sheffield United, Stoke and West Bromwich Albion.[1]

Billy Hendry

Personal information
Full name	William Harold Hendry[1]
Date of birth	20 June 1869[1]
Place of birth	Newport-on-Tay, Scotland[1]
Date of death	(1901-05-04)4 May 1901 (aged 31)[1]
Place of death	Kidderminster, England
Height	5 ft 9.5 in (1.77 m)
Playing position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1886	Dunblane Thistle
1887	Dundee Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1888	West Bromwich Albion	16	(3)
1889	Kidderminster Harriers
1889	Stoke	16	(1)
1890–1891	Preston North End	15	(0)
1891–1895	Sheffield United	109	(4)
1895	Dundee
1896	Bury	8	(1)
1898–1899	Brighton United
1899–1901	Shrewsbury Town
Honours Sheffield United Runner-up Second Division 1893
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football Career

Early career

After leaving school, Hendry, a talented forward, played for Dunblane Thistle and then Dundee Wanderers, usually at outside right, but he was soon to play football in England. There was no professional football at the time in Scotland, so those players with talents to sell crossed the border.

In 1888, Hendry found himself playing for West Bromwich Albion in the first Football League season.[2] Hendry made his League debut on 8 September 1888, in a 2–0 win against Stoke at the Victoria Ground.[2] Hendry scored his debut League goal on 29 September 1888 at Stoney Lane, against Burnley.[2] He played 16 of the "Throstles" 22 Football League matches and scored three goals in 1888–89.[2] Hendry, now playing as a centre forward was restless in his time with the Baggies, and in April 1889 he joined Stoke.[1] While at Stoke Hendry was mainly used as a left-back and played 16 times scoring once.[1] In January 1890 he joined Preston North End, who had just become Football League champions for a second time.[1]

Sheffield United

In January 1891, Charles Stokes, the Chairman of Sheffield United's football committee went to Preston and returned with the signatures of three Preston players in the hope of improving United's professionalism. The players he signed were Jack Drummond, Sammy Dobson and Billy Hendry. Hendry made his debut for Sheffield United against Derby Junction on 28 February 1891 in a Midland Football League match.[3] It was Drummond who was to score the goal that took the Baldes into the First Division in 1893, but it was Hendry's signing that was the most significant. By now, Hendry had become a centre half. He was made team captain at Sheffield United and remained so until his career with the club ended in 1895.

He was a small stocky player, described as neat, cool and calculating with 'exceptional skill'. His value to Sheffield United lay not just in the shrewdness and effectiveness of his play, but in the direction and leadership he gave to the club in the early years of Sheffield United in general. The United committee "set great value upon his options as to the arrangement and formation of the team, and placed confidence in his judgement... and ability as a player, a captain, and an adviser"[4] It was also said that Hendry's advice and guidance helped the natural talents of Ernest Needham, who was to become an England international.[4] Hendry sustained an injury during a New Year's Day friendly fixture at Leith Athletic in 1895 and it was thought that it would end his career. He played only four more games for United before being released the following summer.[4]

Post Sheffield United

Despite his injury problems Hendry later went on to play for Dundee then returned South of the border to play for Bury in The Football League before moving to Brighton United and finally to Shrewsbury Town where he remained until his death in 1901 from heart disease.[4]

Professional Baseball

In 1890 Hendry played professional baseball for Preston North End in the National League of Baseball of Great Britain.

Style of play

Hendry had an ability to skilfully dribble the ball, a technique not used in the traditional English game in the 1880s. (One source described Hendry had qualities of speed, headwork and whole-hearted endeavour.[5])

Career statistics

Source:[2]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
West Bromwich Albion	1888–89	Football League	16	3	0	0	0	0	16	3
Stoke	1888–89[1]	Football League	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	1889–90	Football League	14	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
	Total		16	1	0	0	0	0	16	1
Preston North End	1890–91	Football League	15	0	1	0	0	0	16	0
Sheffield United	1892–93	Second Division	20	2	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	23	2
	1893–94	First Division	29	1	1	0	0	0	30	0
	1894–95	First Division	20	1	0	0	0	0	20	1
	Total		69	4	3	0	1	0	73	4
Bury	1895–96	First Division	8	1	2	0	0	0	10	1
Career Total			124	9	6	0	1	0	131	9

1. Appearance in Football League test matches

Honours

Sheffield United

• Second Division: Runners Up – 1893

Bibliography

• Clarebrough, Denis. From The past. Sheffield United matchday programme, 10 January 1986.

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Billy Hendry at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
3. Denis Clarebrough (1989). Sheffield United: The First 100 Years. Sheffield United Football Club. ISBN 0-9508588-1-1.
4. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
5. Matthews, Tony (2012). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion 1878 - 2005. Derby Books. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-78091-154-0.