Death of George Baldock and his own father behind emotion of Dean Henderson’s first England start

Goalkeeper still grieving for his friend and mourning his father reflects on an emotional night representing his country

Dean Henderson could not fight back the emotion when talking about the previous few days. There was the death of a close friend that left him “numb”, then getting picked to start for England for the first time since his father passed away in the summer.
Henderson takes a deep breath and a step backwards when describing how it felt when he walked off the pitch at Helsinki Olympic Stadium, waving to his mother, brother and wife but wishing so desperately that his dad, Dougie, was there too.
“It’d have been great for him to be here to watch me,” said Henderson. “So it’s been emotional. I know I’ve just got to keep doing him proud.”
Dougie Henderson was coach to his son’s team, Whitehaven Miners, as a child and then followed his son’s career barely missing a game from his time in the Manchester United academy, out on loans, then to Crystal Palace last season where he has fought his way back into the England reckoning.
After going to the European Championships, it was still a surprise selection from Lee Carsley to pick him to face Finland at the weekend, with the England interim wanting to look at a different goalkeeper to Jordan Pickford.
Henderson, 27, was told he was starting the day of the match at St George’s Park, before boarding the plane to Helsinki, which meant he needed to make emergency arrangements to get his family over to be in the stands for his second England cap, four years after making his debut.
Having got them to Finland in time, his thoughts were never far from his father as he waved to his mother Yvonne, brother Kyle and wife Millie.
“I had to go all out and get them over here on a [private] plane,” he said. “But I did do it just because I knew that it was such a big thing for the family. I didn’t want them to miss it. They were emotional in the stand. I could see that.
“I just said it afterwards that I think it’s maybe four years, potentially, three, four years since I’ve played my last game. And it just shows you can never give up and you’ve got to bounce back and be resilient. And I’m proud to have done that because it’s been difficult times.
“My old man, I leaned on him during those times. The journey we went on was phenomenal.”
1,431 days later… ❤️ @deanhenderson pic.twitter.com/hTaX9ImBK7
During the international break, Henderson was also given the devastating news of George Baldock’s death in Greece. The pair were team-mates and neighbours during their time at Sheffield United, with their partners also close.
News of Baldock passing away in Athens filtered through on the evening before England faced Greece, leaving Henderson “numb”.
“I cannot believe it. I’m still numb from it,” he said. “Finding out earlier in the week, the group of lads we had there and what a big character he was… to lose him and just out the blue as well. 
“And obviously, Annabel, his poor missus, and everything with his young boy, Brody. I don’t even know what to say. I’m lost for words on it – still numb to this day.”
Henderson was at Bramall Lane for two years – helping them get promoted then finishing ninth in the Premier League alongside Baldock – before returning to Manchester United where there were plans to pitch him in a battle for the No 1 jersey with David de Gea.
But having two No 1’s pushing each other is not a system that works, according to Henderson. At Palace, he was up against Sam Johnstone and when his rival was injured he seized his chance and eventually earned an England recall. This season has seen Johnstone move to Wolves and Henderson is first choice at Palace
“I don’t think it helped any of us to be honest,” he said. “I think we’ve seen it across the board in many different clubs. I was in a scenario with Man Utd when it was the same and it just doesn’t really help anyone.
“I always thought it would, but it never does. And I think if we’re both honest about it, we’d probably both say exactly the same thing. So I’m delighted for Sam with his move. He’s got a great move there and I’m sure he’ll do really well. And I wish him all the best.”
Carsley wanted to give Henderson a chance against the Finns, which came so quickly that he admits to still getting used to the way England played out from the back. One way of getting up the pitch was through Angel Gomes, who picked the ball up off the backline.
“It just shows his courage and his b——- really, to come and get the ball, turn out and play when he knew we were sort of struggling to get out,” said Henderson. 
He says Carsley is trying to get England’s talent in the best system, which was exposed in the 2-1 defeat by Greece but also shows bravery from the coach.
“You’ve obviously seen in the Euros that people are asking for that team,” he said. “It gets trialled out and maybe that was the reason. Of course, you’ve got to be ballsy and you’ve got to – if you want to control and win games and be fluent in attack – you’ve got to just give it a shot.
“He wants to play, he wants to play with confidence. He wants to control games of football, do you know what I mean? And the boys are buying into that. Obviously, we weren’t at our best the other night and even in some cases against Finland. 
“But I think as players, we’ve got to take responsibility and we’ve got to puff our chest out and show the confidence to get on the ball.”
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