Henderson Stronger for Portsmouth Experience
Friday, 9th Nov 2012 06:02

Stephen Henderson believes he is stronger for his experience at crisis club Portsmouth last season.

The Town goalkeeper, on loan from West Ham until January, left cash-strapped Pompey in March for a temporary stint at Upton Park, a move that was made permanent once the Hammers’ promotion to the Premier League was confirmed.

Henderson was one of three Portsmouth players — Joel Ward and Jason Pearce were the others — linked with a move to Ipswich back in January.

But he said: “There was never a bid put in for me. It never got to the position where I had a decision to make. It was never in my hands to make the call to come here.

“Everything was such a mess back at Portsmouth and I never had any say in it. It was a difficult time there but I wouldn’t change any of it because it has made me a stronger person.

“I’m stronger for it and I take nothing for granted these days. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone — put it that way — because it wasn’t a good environment to be in.

“It’s something I learned from and something I hope I never have to deal with again to be honest. It was different circumstances when I came here.

“It was more to do with finances at Portsmouth and here it’s just been poor performances. I was near the bottom with Portsmouth but not in as bad a position as we’re in here at the minute.

“I know what we need to do to get out of it and I’m going to do my utmost to make sure we do.”

Henderson insists Ipswich are sufficiently well equipped to climb clear of trouble, especially since the arrival of new manager Mick McCarthy.

He added: “Without a doubt we are. You just have to look at the squad. There are some top-class players here.

“The new gaffer’s come in and right from the first day he was telling us we shouldn’t be at the bottom of the table. With all due respect to Paul Jewell, he had the same mentality but it just didn’t work out in my short time here.

“Mick has come in and the lads have responded really well. He’s brought the discipline factor in and he picked up straight away on the fact that we have conceded too many goals.”

Photo: Action Images

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oldtimer3 added 07:16 - Nov 9

Sorry but playing a keeper who knows to much about the negative side of the game aint helping our course his confidence must have been shaken badly at portsmouth to used to loosing being at the wrong end of the table, is he that good a keeper better than two IPSWICH TOWN KEEPERS dont think so I dont like this loan system i think a club should only be allowed a maximum of two loanees a season, and thats only to cover for long term injuries

MattinLondon added 07:29 - Nov 9 Since Roy Keane does anyone know how many loan players we have had in total? It must be quite a high number.
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Marcus added 07:34 - Nov 9 I get tired if hearing about good players. Let me know when we have a good TEAM.
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yorksblue added 08:19 - Nov 9 After he goes back in Jan, will he be saying he's better for playing at crisis club Ipswich?
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1Finshefki added 08:31 - Nov 9 he picked up straight away on the fact that we have conceded too many goals - aha. This could be the problem.
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Wickets added 10:13 - Nov 9

Well said Marcus, it's the team that counts. MM needs to start saying us not them when he refers to the team, hopefully that was just a slip of the tongue,If the loan players are going to make a differance the are going to have to stop distancing themselves from the poor results by blaming Town players for poor results. Its a team game while they are at our club they need to remember they are our players.