A Farewell to Hendo

By Albatross
October 31 2003

Kevin Henderson is leaving Hartlepool United and has joined Carlisle - the place where he has recently been on loan. He'll have Paul Arnison to keep him company as the right sided player joins the Cumbrians on loan. Time to say "Well done thou good and faithful servant"...

Ashington-born Hendo initially entered the professional ranks when Chris Waddle signed him for Burnley. Opportunities there were limited though, and after 20 sub appearances and 2 goals in 18 months, he was released in the summer of 1999 and became one of Chris Turner's first signings for Hartlepool - finally joining us after he'd been tracked by the club while at Morpeth.

Initially he started off as backup to the partnership of Freestone and Jones, coming off the bench to score his first goal for the club against Plymouth, but found himself making his first start against Darlington and soon established himself in the side. He suffered a little from injuries, but the partnership of Jones and Hendo developed well and looked promising. A double on Boxing Day 1999 against York - including a spectacular overhead kick from the edge of the area - put him firmly on the radar of Poolies, and he finished the season with a creditable nine goals.

Better was to follow the next season, as he became Pools main striker and finished the season with 19 goals. Tommy Miller may have been hitting the headlines, but Hendo too was looking pretty good and it finally looked like we might have someone capable of scoring 20 a season regularly.

Injury and a loss of form though affected Hendo badly in 2001/2, and he managed just two goals that season. With the arrival of Gordon Watson and then Eifion Williams, Hendo found himself pushed down the pecking order and competing for a spot on the bench with the likes of Lormor, Boyd and Easter. Last season was a similar story, with just two goals scored and him once again failing to be a regular starter. He did show a few signs of being a super sub - particularly when coming on late against Scunthorpe and helping Pools turn things round - but with the quality of the Pools squad improving, Hendo was increasingly being left behind.

It was no surprise when he was allowed to go out on loan to Carlisle, and when they had their ban on signings removed it was logical that they would approach Pools for a permanent move after some impressive displays for the Cumbrians.

What are they getting? Hendo is an honest, workmanlike Division 3 forward. Not the most skillful, not the best in the air, not the quickest, but reasonably competent in most areas and hard working enough to make sure that he can do a job. If he's getting criticised by Pools fans, it's less to do with him going downhill and more to do with the way that Pools have progressed over the last three seasons - or at least in my opinion. We've moved on, we've signed better players, and Hendo is no longer capable of challenging for a starting slot against the likes of Robinson, Gabbiadini and Eifion Williams. Good luck to him at Brunton Park.

With Paul Arnison joining Carlisle on a loan deal as well, the question for Pools fans though is whether this means Cooper has some lattitude to bring more players in. The flanks - particularly left back and right midfield - are the weak areas, and with the wages freed up it may be Coops can now bring someone in. Watch this space.....