Ian Henderson becomes Dale’s all-time record goalscorer

Not one, but two dreams came true for Ian Henderson and Ethan Brierley during Tuesday’s home fixture against Salford City – as Hendo became the club’s top goalscorer.

However, it was a pass from Brierley, 18, that set up Hendo’s 130th goal for the club to not only win the match, but also surpass Reg Jenkins' record total of 129 goals, a record which had stood since February 1973.

Hendo’s 130th goal for the club earned Dale all three points in a 1-0 win at home to Salford City, where he spent two seasons between 2020 and 2022. It came in his 364th Dale appearance, a stat which has him in second place in Dale’s all-time appearances list.

Henderson said: "I'm incredibly proud and honoured to achieve this milestone. Eight and a half years of working tirelessly day in day out to break a record to that's been with the football club for such a long time is an amazing feeling.

"To celebrate with the players, staff and especially the fans is a magic moment that I'll cherish forever."

 

 

Lifelong Dale fan Brierley grew up admiring Henderson, and walked out with him on the pitch on a few occasions as a mascot when he was a child.

 

 

Brierley has described the moment as “a dream come true”, adding that he never thought he would be the one to assist in the record-breaking goal, whilst Henderson said that he was “feeling proud and emotional to have created a part of history.”

 

 

Hendo's first goal for the club came in only his second appearance, opening the scoring in a 4-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers on 9 March 2013.

126 of the 130 came in his first spell at Dale, between 2013 and 2020. The remaining four have been scored this season, after he rejoined in the summer.

Brierley has been with the Dale academy since the age of seven and made his first team debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Huddersfield Town in September 2020.

He signed a three-year professional contract upon turning 17 in November of that year, making nine appearances during the 2020/21 campaign.