By John Walsh

Last updated 12:11, Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Workington Reds non-league legend Martin Henderson was among the 450 at Blyth who watched the west Cumbrians lose 3-1 on Saturday.

Looking fit and well, the former Borough Park hero has made a good recovery from a heart scare last year.

He had spent four weeks in hospital undergoing tests but nothing could be found which caused concern.

Martin said: “It was quite scary at the time because I was blacking out for a few seconds and as I was driving for a living that was a major problem.

“I couldn’t drive for a long time because of what had happened to me but fortunately they couldn’t find out what had caused the problem. I’ve got my licence back now and working again.

“The good bit was that they couldn’t find anything wrong with my heart and I’m back playing over-40’s football now. I’ve an implant in my neck to monitor things but that’s no problem.”

The Saturday League for Over-40’s runs on a Saturday morning and ‘Sunroof’ is a regular in the competition.

“I’m playing with lads I’ve played with and against all my career and I can tell you there are some decent players taking part,” he says.

Martin always makes a check of Workington’s result each week and said he was disappointed that they lost against the Spartans.

“I think Blyth took their chances and the Reds didn’t. It was one of those games really,” he said.

He also admitted he’s looking for a Reds shirt from the time he played at the club which was from 1993-97.

“My lad is 21 now and has heard all about the time I played for the Reds and he would very much like a shirt from that era. I know I played there when the Big Breakfast sponsored us and that would be very nice if anyone, anywhere has got one,” he says.

He’s most famous, of course for scoring a hat-trick in the penultimate match of the 1994-95 season to win the points after Reds had gone 2-0 down at Warrington. Defeat would have put them down.

Then in the last game of the season Workington beat Congleton 4-0 at Borough Park to ensure safety and Henderson was chaired aloft by the fans and carried off after scoring two more.