George Henson

George Horace Henson (25 December 1911 – 25 April 1988) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Bradford Park Avenue, Northampton Town, Sheffield United, Swansea Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

George Henson was born in Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire on Christmas Day 1911 and from an early age his football skills were recognised. He started playing for Stony Stratford Town Football Club in the Bedfordshire League at the age of fifteen and just two years later (in August 1932) signed for Wolverton Football Club as an amateur player where he scored over 50 goals in the North Bucks League. It was here he was spotted by scouts from Northampton Town and trialled for the Cobblers. His father, King Henson, wouldn't let him sign on professionally and made him finish his apprenticeship in Wolverton Railway Works before signing professionally to Northampton Town when he was 21 years old on 11 August 1932.

Northampton Town

In the 1932–33 season, George made just two appearances for Northampton Town, making his debut on 19 November 1932 in a 2–0 loss away to Crystal Palace where he played number 9. He played his second game on 6 May 1933 in another losing away game to Norwich City. George's first goal for Northampton Town came on 30 September 1933 when he made his home debut against Norwich City and scored both of the 2 goals for the Cobblers in a 2–2 draw.

Whilst playing for Northampton Town, George featured in the memorable 1933-34 Cobblers F.A. Cup run scoring the winning goal in the 1–0 win against Southampton. They then travelled away to Huddersfield who were then top of Division 1 and beat them 2–0 in one of their biggest giant killing acts before crashing out to Preston 4–0 in the 5th round in front of a crowd of over 40,000 people. A press report from the Huddersfield game has the following caption against a pen picture of George Henson "Just a boy. This is his first season as a professional footballer. Played in the local football before being bought to the Town first as an amateur and later as a pro. Has a terrific right foot shot"

Sheffield United

George was signed by Sheffield for the sum of £2,600 as part of their push to gain promotion to the First Division in 1939 and as cover for a number of injured players. He joined them in March 1939 and was immediately thrown into action with a game at home to Swansea Town, his old team who won 2–1 but at least George had the satisfaction of scoring the Sheffield goal.

Playing in all but one of the remaining League games he formed a good partnership with Hagan, Reid and Hampson scoring another 4 goals in 10 matches and setting up a good few more for his team-mates to score. Notable games were a 3–0 win over Bradford Park Avenue where George scored one of the goals and in the final game of the season with a win needed to secure promotion they managed a 6–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur with George scoring two of the goals taking Sheffield United up into Division 1. before returning to where it all began as player coach for Stony Stratford Town in the South Midlands League where he helped them to promotion in their first season. He hung up his boots for good in 1951.