Henderson Ties Soccer Hall of Famer Jimmy Gallagher in Games Played

ONEONTA, NY (October 16, 2006) – Chris Henderson of the New York Red Bulls tied Hall of Famer Jimmy Gallagher for 3rd on the All-Time Games Played list with his 346th game played on last Saturday night. The list consists of games played in documented professional first division league and playoff matches. Henderson leads Major League Soccer in games played and is within range of 2nd place on the All-Time list in this year's MLS playoffs and the all-time record during the 2007 season. "I'm proud that I have been able to play at an elite level, while contributing to each team that I have been on during my 17-year career,” Henderson said. "From my time with my first professional team, the Seattle Storm of the WSL, to my 11-year career in Major League Soccer, I feel fortunate that I am able to go out and continue playing the game I love."

Henderson currently plays for the New York Red Bulls and played in all 32 Red Bull league matches this year. He began his MLS career in the league's first year, 1996, with the Colorado Rapids. He has also played for Kansas City, Miami, and Columbus before his current tenure at the Red Bulls. Of his 346 matches, 317 are regular season games while 29 were played in the MLS Playoffs. His playoff appearances include a win in MLS Cup 2000 with the Kansas City Wizards. Most of his games were played with the Colorado Rapids, with 178 regular season games and 16 post-season appearances.

Gallagher played for the J&P Coats, Indiana Flooring, New York Nationals and New York Giants in his 10-year American Soccer League career. He won an ASL championship with Coats in 1923 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1928 with the Nationals. An interesting note is that Gallagher was a mirror player to Henderson, playing along the right flank, equally adept as a winger and a halfback.

Hall of Fame Historians Colin Jose and Roger Allaway compiled the All-Time Games Played table during the course of their research into the professional game in America. The Top 10 players on the list are:

*American Soccer League (1921 – 1931)
Major League Soccer Statistics current through the 2006 Regular Season.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame located in Oneonta, N.Y., celebrates the history, honors the heroes and preserves the legacy of soccer in the United States. For more information, log on to soccerhall.org.