Wayne Hennessey

Infobox Football biography
playername = Wayne Hennessey


fullname = Wayne Robert Hennessey
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|1|24|df=yes
cityofbirth = Llangefni
countryofbirth = Wales
height = height|m=1.99 [http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10307~36927,00.html]
currentclub = Wolverhampton Wanderers
clubnumber = 1
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs = Manchester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
years = 2006–
2006
2007
clubs = Wolverhampton Wanderers
→ Bristol City (loan)
→ Stockport County (loan)
caps(goals) = 53 (0)
00 (0)
15 (0)
nationalyears = 2005–
2007–
nationalteam = Wales U21
Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 08 (0)
14 (0)
pcupdate = 22 September 2008
ntupdate = 17:18, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Wayne Robert Hennessey (born 24 January 1987 in Llangefni) is a Welsh international footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship.

Club career

Early career

Hennessey, raised in Beaumaris, Anglesey, began as a trainee at Manchester City but was released in 2003, whereupon he joined the youth academy at Wolves. After progressing through the ranks, he signed professional forms in April 2005.

After remaining in Wolves' reserve and youth teams during the 2005/06 season, Hennessey was sent on trial with Bristol City in July 2006 [cite news |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=406314&plid=50647&clid=113&cpid=11 |title=Stockport Robins admit McAllister interest |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=July 28 2006 |work=Alex Dunn |publisher=Sky Sports] with a view to a loan move to gain first team experience but was recalled to Wolves after an injury to their first-choice goalkeeper Matt Murray. He did go back to Bristol City in August 2006, however, on a one month loan deal, [cite news |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=409245&plid=50647&clid=113&cpid=11 |title=Robins to sign young keeper |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=August 11 2006 |work=Mark Buckingham |publisher=Sky Sports] but didn't make an appearance and returned to his parent club early due to a shoulder injury. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/5271818.stm |title=Johnson eager to bring in keeper |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=August 21 2006 |work= |publisher=BBC Sport]

Record breaker

To gain first-team football, Hennessey joined League Two side Stockport County in January 2007 on a one-month loan. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/6252807.stm |title=Hatters sign goalkeeper Hennessey |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=January 11 2007 |work= |publisher=BBC Sport] On his senior debut against fc|Boston United, he kept a clean sheet and after keeping another five clean sheets in successive matches, his loan spell was extended by an extra month. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/6357051.stm |title=Stockport extend Hennessey loan |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=February 13 2007 |work= |publisher=BBC Sport]

He went on to set a Football League record of nine successive clean sheets and wins.cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2026082,00.html |title=Leeds deeper in gloom as Nicholls says he wants away |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=March 4 2007 |work=Jason Tomas |publisher=The Observer] Stockport broke the 119-year-old record, when they beat Swindon Town 3-0 on 3 March 2007. After this accomplishment, he was named the League Two Player of the Month for February 2007. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/6417015.stm |title=Hennessey's heroics secure award |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=March 4 2007 |work= |publisher=BBC Sport] His feat also means he now holds County's record for the longest period without conceding a goal, beating Harry Hardy's 85-year-old record. His record now stands at 857 minutes, from the start of his competitive club debut, vs Boston United on 13 January 2007 until Oliver Allen of Barnet scored on 10 March 2007. He therefore did not concede in his first 9-and-a-half matches of competitive club football.

Wolves

Hennessey was recalled by Wolves in April 2007 after another injury to first-choice Matt Murray, [cite news |url=http://www.sportbox.tv/football/news/story.php?id=244508 |title=County lose Hennessey |accessdate=2007-04-16 |date=April 10 2007 |work= |publisher=SportBox.tv] and found himself on the substitutes bench for several games. When Murray broke his shoulder on the eve of Wolves' Championship play-off semi-final first leg against local rivals West Brom, Hennessey stepped in to make his Wolves debut. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6651217.stm|title=Murray out with broken shoulder|work=BBC Sport|date=2007-05-13|accessdate=2007-05-13] Although a losing effort from Wolves, Hennessey performed solidly over the two legs.

With Murray sidelined for the whole of the 2007/08 season with yet another injury, Hennessey became firmly established at the club's number one, being an ever-present in the league. The season also saw him sign a new deal which will keep him at Molineux until Summer 2012.

He was ranked 22nd in the Top 50 Football League Players by FourFourTwo magazine [cite web|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/footballleagueawards/archive/2008/03/02/fourfourtwo-50-best-football-league-players.aspx
title= FourFourTwo 50 Best Football League Players|work=FourFourTwo|date=2008-03-02|accessdate=2008-03-02] , named in the 2007/08 PFA Championship Team of the Year as well as being named 07-08 season Player of the Year for Wolves.

International career

Hennessey made his full international debut for Wales in a 2-2 friendly draw against New Zealand on 26 May 2007 and has since established himself as his country's first-choice goalkeeper.

He has also been capped at Under 17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. He once scored for Under-19 side with a 40-yard free kick against Turkey. [cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/stockport_county/s/233/233326_hennessey_puts_county_strikers_in_shade.html|title=Hennessey puts County strikers in shade |accessdate=2007-03-04 |date=January 16 2007 |work=Stuart Brennan |publisher=Manchester Evening News]

References

External links

* [http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10307~36927,00.html Official club profile]
*soccerbase|id=44062|name=Wayne Hennessey
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/6424651.stm BBC Sport interview]