A Highland League star who has died aged just 34 was described last night as a “one of a kind” – and hailed for his “Braveheart” performances on the pitch.
Leigh Henderson’s family said last night they had been touched by a string of tributes paid to the player by friends and teammates.
He was found dead at his north-east home and his parents and partner are still waiting for the cause of his death to be established.
Mr Henderson had played in the Highland League for Keith, Turriff, Huntly and Deveronvale and also had stints with village teams Portsoy and Cornhill.
His mother Jane said last night that the family was still in a state of shock and trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
She added: “All the tributes – everything that his friends and colleagues have been saying about him – have been true.
“He was a very likeable joker who loved a good laugh, loved to sing and loved to play football.
“He had played football since he was five, when he started playing with Deveron Boys. Deveronvale was in his blood – that’s what he would always say.”
Mr Henderson, who worked as an electrician, was so devoted to the Banff side – which he had two spells with – that he refused to accept any wages for playing when he returned last year.
Speaking at the family home at Cornhill, Mrs Henderson said: “He did it for the love of football. He was actually going to give up after his stint with Huntly, when he was starting to go offshore, but Deveronvale wanted him back. It was like coming home to him.
“We’re still in that stage where we can’t believe this has happened, but because Leigh was the character that he was, there’s been laughter as well as tears.
“Speaking about him and hearing all the tributes has given us a lot of laughter and I’m sure that’s what he would have wanted.
“It’s very hard to be without him though”
Mr Henderson helped partner Claire Louise bring up her three children and was described as a “friend” to youngsters Tyler, Libby and Manisha.
Claire Louise said: “He would have helped anyone do anything.
“One of his elderly neighbours struggled to get out of the house and I remember him going to get her milk and knocking on her door, but running away so that she couldn’t pay him for it.
That was just Leigh.
“He wouldn’t even claim expenses from Deveronvale.
“He wasn’t the manager and he wasn’t the coach, but on the pitch he would tell everyone what to do and where to go.
“Everyone listened to him, and all the younger players looked up to him.
“I’ve had messages from a few of the players at Deveronvale in the last few days who he helped – the actual messages Leigh sent them – to never give up.”
Current Formartine United manager Kris Hunter, who coached Mr Henderson at Turriff, said the player was “one of a kind”.
“He was a great character and a great player in the two years I had him,” he added.
“He was one of a kind. I’ve been involved with a lot of players and been involved with a lot of teams, but the way he could get a whole bus full of people in stitches was something I have never seen.
“You don’t get a lot of character like that in football and he’ll be sorely missed in the game.
“He was one of those guys you would have had in your dressing room at any time, and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him – I would have had him in my dressing room any time.”
Deveronvale Football Club, meanwhile, released a statement expressing their at his death.
“It was an absolute pleasure working with him during the past few years,” the statement said.
“He won the hearts of the fans with his ‘Braveheart’ performances, and was the ‘life and soul’ of the dressing room.
“Only 34 years old, it’s an absolute tragedy. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.”
Mr Henderson is also survived by his father Fred, sister Jackie, brother-in-law Andy, nephews Ryan and Blair and niece Amy.