Billy Hendry

Football player infobox
playername = Billy Hendry


fullname = William Harold Hendry
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = June, 1869
cityofbirth = Newport-on-Tay
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = 1901
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
position = Centre-Half
youthyears =
youthclubs = Dunblane Thistle
Dundee Wanderers
years = 1888
1888
1888–1889
1889–1891
1891–1895
1895
1896
1898–1899
clubs = West Bromwich Albion
Kidderminster Harriers
Stoke City
Preston North End
Sheffield United
Dundee
Bury
Brighton United
Total
caps(goals) = 018 0(4)

016 0(1)
015 0(0)
069 0(4)

008 0(1)

126 (10)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

William Harold Hendry (born June, 1869, in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland – died 1901) known as Billy Hendry, was a footballer who played for Sheffield United as a Centre-Half.

Hendry was born in 1869 at Newport-on-Tay, Fife, [ [http://since1888.co.uk Since 1988 Football League Database.] (accessed 22 September 2007)] a village on the Tay estuary. After leaving school, Billy, 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. Hendry had an ability to skilfully dribble the ball, a technique not used in the traditional English game in the 1880’s.

In 1888, Billy found himself playing for West Bromwich Albion in the first Football League season. Hendry, now playing as a centre forward was restless in his time with the Baggies, and in 1889 he joined Stoke City. A year later he joined Preston North End, who had just become Football League champions for a second time.

Before January 1891 was out, Charles Stokes, a member of Sheffield United’s football committee went to Preston and returned with the signatures of three Preston players. The players he signed were Jack Drummond, Sammy Dobson and Billy Hendry.

Hendry made his debut for Sheffield United against Derby Junction F.C. on 28 February 1891 in a Midland Counties League match.Denis Clarebrough (1989) Sheffield United: The First 100 Years. Sheffield United Football Club. ISBN 0-9508588-1-1]

It was Drummond who was to score the goal that took United into Division One 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"

Under Hendry’s leadership, the Blades secured a place in Division One, and foundations were laid for the great Sheffield United team of the turn of the century.It was also said that Hendry’s advice and guidance helped the natural talents of Ernest Needham, who was to become an England international.

Notes

References

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