Henderson was born on 29 August 1961 and came from a famous sporting family, his uncles George Henderson and Noel Henderson were both Irish badminton internationals, the latter also being a rugby international player. He was educated at University of Ulster, Jordanstown, where he graduated with a sports degree.[1] He was a member of the Sandelford Badminton Club in Coleraine[1] and Alpha Badminton Club of Lisburn[2] and gained Irish caps at U18 and U21 level.[1] His brother-in-law Scott Huey was another badminton international for Ireland.[1] Henderson represented Ulster at provincial level[3] and the all-Ireland team, making a full senior debut in 1984.[4]
He specialised in doubles play and partners included Eugene McKenna[5] and Bruce Topping in the men's doubles[3] and Jayne Plunkett[6] and Holly Lane and Nikki Lane in mixed doubles.[7]
Henderson represented the 1994 Northern Irish team[8] at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada,[9] where he competed in the badminton tournament.[10] At the Games he played singles and partnered Bruce Topping in the men's doubles and Jayne Plunkett in the mixed doubles.[1]
In August 1996 Henderson married Claire Russell.[11] He attended a second Commonwealth Games for the 1998 Northern Irish team[12] at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he competed in two events.[13]
By 1999 he had earned 50 international caps[7] and a third Commonwealth Games appearance ensued[14] at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.[15]
He was a five-time Irish champion at the Irish National Badminton Championships, winning the men's doubles in 2002[16] and the mixed doubles in 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1992.[17]
