THE Wishaw-born footballer Roy Henderson has died at the age of 73.

Many older fans of the game believe that Henderson, who played for Queen of the South for 10 seasons after signing from Third Lanark in 1946, should have been capped for Scotland. But the unofficial club comedian, who had guested for Aberdeen and Dundee during the war, lost out to Rangers' Bobby Brown and Morton's Jimmy Cowan, although he was reserve keeper six times.

One veteran aficionado believes that not one of the goalkeepers who played in the last World Cup could equal Roy Henderson's ability when it came to intercepting the ball from the corner flag, although he was less that 5ft 10in tall.

His younger brother George played for Stirling Albion, St Mirren, Dumbarton, and Third Lanark, and Roy was booked once for playfully giving him a tap on the rear end with the point of his boot during a game.

Henderson was in the Queens team that beat Celtic 4-0 in 1951 and rattled the then league leaders Hibernian 5-2 in 1952. He was also an important component of the side that occupied the top position in the old First Division until New Year's Day during the 1953-54 season.

Two seasons later, when the Queens' forward line - Black, McGill, Patterson, Rothera, and Oakes - was considered to be one of the best in Scotland, Henderson was voted the team's Player of the Season.

Henderson's career foundered after he broke a

leg four days into the 1956-57 season in a game against

Dunfermline.

He is survived by his widow Jean, his daughters Donna and Shirley Ann, and his son Neil.