Derek Hennin (28 December 1931 – January 1989) was an English professional footballer who played as a

wing half A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...

. He was part of the

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club () is a professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in . The club played at Burnden Park for 102 years from 1895 after moving from their original home at Pike's ...

side that won the 1958 FA Cup Final against

Manchester United Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of City of Salford, Salford to ...

Early life

Hennin was born in

Prescot Prescot is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, it lies about to the east of Liverpool city centre. At the 2001 Census, the civ ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

on 28 December 1931 to Harry and Maggie Hennin. He had one younger sister, Patricia (Pat). He attended Whiston Secondary Modern School from the age of eleven until fifteen, where he was Head Boy and was a keen player in the school football team. He grew up a supporter of Everton. As a youngster, Hennin played for the England Youth football team.

Playing career

Hennin was born in

and was a product of the St Helens Combination league, having left hometown club

Prescot Cables Prescot Cables Football Club is a supporter-owned football club based in Prescot, Merseyside. It was established in 1884 and has also been known as Prescot and Prescot Town. They compete in the and play their home games at Valerie Park. They ...

for

in June 1949. He had to wait almost five years for his league debut against

Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as Tottenham () or Spurs, is a professional association football, football club based in Tottenham, London, England. It competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English footba ...

. He went on to make 164 league appearances for the club, with his first of his eight goals arriving against

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

in January 1957. The following season saw him help Bolton reach the

FA Cup final The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the FA Cup, Football Association Challenge Cup. It has regularly been one of the List of sports attendance figures, most attended domestic football ev ...

, where he was selected for the 2–0 win over

. In February 1961 Hennin joined

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

, making his debut in a 2–1 derby win at

Wrexham Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...

. He was installed as captain the following season but left the club at the end of the campaign after they again finished bottom of

the Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

. This marked the end of Hennin's professional career, as he joined non–league side

Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1932, ...

, where he played 38 Cheshire League games during his one season at the club.

Honours

Bolton Wanderers * 1957–1958:

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...

winners.

Personal life

Hennin married Mary in June 1954. The couple had a total of three daughters: Nicola (b.1956 d.1958), Hilary (b.1959) and Lynn (b.1961).

References

External links

1958 FA Cup final report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hennin, Derek 1931 births 1989 deaths Footballers from Prescot English men's footballers Men's association football wing halves English Football League players Bolton Wanderers F.C. players Chester City F.C. players Wigan Athletic F.C. players Prescot Cables F.C. players