Crosby Gray Henderson (12 May 1885 – 27 April 1970) was an English professional footballer who made 71 appearances in the Football League playing as a left back for Grimsby Town and Birmingham. He was on the books of Newcastle United without appearing for their first team, and played Southern League football for Brighton & Hove Albion and Luton Town.

Crosby Henderson
Personal information
Full name Crosby Gray Henderson
Date of birth (1885-05-12)12 May 1885
Place of birth South Hylton, England
Date of death 27 April 1970(1970-04-27) (aged 84)
Place of death Sunderland, England
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Hylton Rangers
Hylton Star
1906–1908 Newcastle United 0 (0)
1908–1910 Grimsby Town 65 (0)
1910–1911 Birmingham 6 (0)
1911–1912 Brighton & Hove Albion 12 (0)
1912–1913 Luton Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and career

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Crosby Gray Henderson was born on 12 May 1885 in South Hylton, which was then in County Durham.[1] He was a younger child of Thomas Henderson, a blacksmith by trade, and his wife Frances. He was apprenticed as a ship plater,[2] and played local football for Hylton Rangers and Hylton Star[1] before joining Football League First Division club Newcastle United in May 1906. He continued working in the shipyards while with Newcastle, never played for their first team,[3] and moved on to Grimsby Town of the Second Division in May 1908.[4]

Henderson played 65 league games for Grimsby over two seasons,[5] earning himself a reputation as a solid defender, but left the club when they failed to be re-elected to the Football League. He joined Birmingham, who had finished below Grimsby but whose application for re-election had been successful.[6][7] He went straight into the starting eleven, but lost his place after six games, and the form, consistency and fitness of the young Frank Womack meant he never regained it.[8]

At the end of the 1910–11 season, he left for Brighton & Hove Albion of the Southern League. Both Grimsby and Birmingham had used him at left back, but he was capable of playing on either side,[4] and it was as a right back that he made his 12 appearances for Brighton. He was released at the end of the season,[3] and joined Luton Town, whose local newspaper described him as "a big, strong and very steady fellow, and a good kick."[9] He began the season in the first team, but fell out of favour, and in August 1913 he was reported to be advertising for an engagement.[10][11]

Henderson married Ellen Appleton in 1909.[12] He died in Sunderland on 27 April 1970 at the age of 84.[3]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grimsby Town 1908–09[1] Second Division 37 0 1 0 38 1
1909–10[1] Second Division 28 0 1 0 29 0
Total 65 0 2 0 67 0
Birmingham 1910–11[1] Second Division 6 0 0 0 6 0
Brighton & Hove Albion 1911–12[3] Southern League Division One 12 0 0 0 1[a] 0 13 0
Career total 83 0 2 0 1 0 86 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Player search: Henderson, CG (Crosby)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Crosby Henderson in household of Thomas Henderson, Ford, Durham, England, United Kingdom". 1901 England, Scotland and Wales census. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via FamilySearch.
  3. ^ a b c d Carder & Harris (1997), p. 110.
  4. ^ a b "Player migrations". Sporting Chronicle. 11 May 1908. p. 4.
  5. ^ Joyce (2004), p. 121.
  6. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 96.
  7. ^ "Football League 1909–1910". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  8. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 96, 157.
  9. ^ "Two new players". Luton Reporter. 22 July 1912. p. 7.
  10. ^ "Town's last home game". Luton Reporter. 18 April 1913. p. 8. Luton have, of course, materially altered their team since Boxing Day, and with Potts reappearig in place of Henderson, they were practically at full strength.
  11. ^ "Personal pars". Luton Reporter. 18 August 1913. p. 5.
  12. ^ "Crosby Gray Henderson, 1909". England & Wales Marriages, 1837–2005. 1909 Q3 vol.10a p.1154. Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via FamilySearch.

Sources

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  • Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7.
  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.