Henderson reflects on Hampden memories as 1872 Cup draws closer

Twenty years ago, Scotland played host to Australia at Hampden in November, a game which Andrew Henderson remembers as something a little bit different.

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Warrior #88 made his Glasgow debut in 2001 and his Scotland debut the same year.  He was part of the Scottish side to face Australia in 2004 at Hampden.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Henderson, revelled in the fact it was 20 years ago, he said, “Twenty years ago! A bit of a surprise that! It really does go quickly.

“It was obviously something a bit different.  I had been to Hampden a couple of ties as a boy, but to get into the changing rooms and to have a different place for a home game was quite exciting!”

“Obviously, it’s the second-best stadium in Scotland.  I think the following year we played in Perth, but again, it’s nothing like Hampden. It was great!

“I just remember being quite excited about it being a different experience.”

It is as Henderson is speaking about the noise at Hampden that Al Kellock happens to be walking past and recognises his former teammates voice over the phone.

“I didn’t realise we were bringing in the legends to speak about Hampden!” Kellock exclaims. “That’s because everyone else is back off in Australia!” replies Henderson.

After a few moments of chatting, Kellock apologises for interrupting the interview and lets Henderson get back to talking rugby at Hampden.

“I can’t honestly remember it too much with it being twenty years ago, I think we started reasonably well.  Hopefully the crowd had one or two things to cheer about.

“It’s quite funny because we played Australia a few times that year, and we had played them in the World Cup the year before.  They were obviously very good, having made the World Cup Final the year before and won it in 1999.  I would say they were one of the top teams of that time absolutely

“We could stick with them for the first hour of the games, but each one of these games ended up about 30-15 or so. We were actually in the games for quite a big chunk but unfortunate they pulled away as they did in other games.  But the Scotland crowd as always were pretty noisy.

The 1872 Cup rivalry, is something that has been looked forward to by Glasgow and Edinburgh players alike.

“I always looked forward to them, they are a good rivalry. I think the game was often boxing day, so you had to easy on the Christmas dinner and you were fully focused over that period.

“You always knew the guys in the other team and it always adds a bit more when you know the opposition personally.  It was also a bit like a National Trial because you wanted to but your best foot forward for Scotland selection as well as beating them.

“I think they have all started to blend a bit together, but I remember a way back when we used to play at Hughenden and getting a good win over on them, but I couldn’t even tell you what year it was. And another good win over at Firhill as well, where I think we won quite well!

“I seem to think that when I was playing, they were reasonably equal, going backwards and forwards with wins and losses.”

Following his professional career, Henderson played club rugby at GHA and retrained in plumbing.  He now works for himself, which he says “keeps him busy.”

Stats Profile from @topofthemoongw

Andy was first selected in a Glasgow matchday 22 for a Welsh-Scottish League clash against Bridgend in September 2000 but ended up as an unused substitute.

He had to wait another 222 days to actually make his debut, playing the last nine minutes against Caerphilly at Hughenden before getting the whole of the second half against Swansea to round out the 2000/01 campaign.

The following season was when he really made his breakthrough, starting 24 of Glasgow’s 30 games – the equal most of any back.

He seemed to enjoy playing against Welsh sides – his first seven tries were all scored against clubs from the principality.

In all he tallied 141 games and was just the sixth player to become a Warrior Centurion when he brought up the ton in a game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in September 2006.

He made 97 starts in the number 12 jersey – a club record ahead of Sam Johnson on 92. There were another 18 matches at outside centre and even a one-off, never to be repeated outing in the 11 shirt.

There were a number of midfield partners during his time at the club, including James McLaren, Alan Bulloch, Joe Naufahu, Scott Barrow, Daryl Gibson and Max Evans.

It was his combination with Graeme Morrison that was at the heart of much of his time with Glasgow though.

They first started together versus Scarlets in November 2003 and would go on to rack up 39 outings as a 12 / 13 unit, with their final start coming against Ospreys in September 2008.

For more than a decade, Andy was the only Glasgow player to score a hat-trick for Scotland in the professional era (against Ireland in 2007) until George Turner, Tommy Seymour and George Horne bagged trebles in quick succession in 2018 and 2019.