Happy Valley Football Club trainer Hank Middleton to have changerooms named after him

HANK Middleton defines what it means to be a volunteer.He has given his all to Happy Valley Football Club for more than 20 years and now, as he faces a battle with untreatable prostate and liver cancer, the Vikings are set to honour him.

Hank Middleton, a long-serving Happy Valley Football Club and Southern Football League volunteer in front of the Viking’s Football Hall of Fame. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.

HANK Middleton defines what it means to be a volunteer.

He has given his all to Happy Valley Football Club for more than 20 years and now, as he faces a battle with untreatable prostate and liver cancer, the Vikings are set to honour him.

From Saturday, Middleton’s name will adorn the change rooms at the Aberfoyle Park club, where he has been a trainer since 1994.

Hank Middleton has served as head trainer and assistant trainer at Happy Valley since 1994. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.

The 63-year-old, a Vikings and Southern Football League life member, says Happy Valley will always hold a special place in his heart.

“They thought they should recognise me before it becomes a memorial service,” Middleton jokes.

“Every time I think of something I’ve been involved in at the club — an event, a game, a final, a moment — it brings a smile to my face.

“It’s just a terrific club to be at.”

Happy Valley will hold a presentation before the Vikings’ home clash against Reynella on Saturday. Middleton, also a former Goodwood Saints trainer, followed Country Fire Service mates to Happy Valley.

Injuries ended his playing career early so Middleton offered to lend a hand to the club’s only trainer and never looked back. Middleton was diagnosed with prostate cancer 18 months ago but thought he had beaten the disease until scans in September revealed it had spread to his liver.

Hank Middleton in the Vikings’ medical room in 2012.

“We ran out of medical options, so decided to stop treating it and look at quality of life instead and nature will take its course,” he says.

“I take a lot of positives out of what Neale Daniher is talking about with his battle with MND (motor neurone disease), just enjoying life.”

Middleton says his fondest memories at the Vikings include watching players climb the ranks and go on to play at the elite level, as well as the club’s glory years during the 1990s when it won six premierships.

He was also a part of Happy Valley flags in 2003 and 2012.

Happy Valley after winning the 2012 SFL premiership against Brighton.

After playing his part in designing the change rooms, Middleton says he is proud of pushing to install doors wide enough for ambulance access, which some clubs still do not have.

“It might sound small, but we got the external door widen so it was wide enough for the ambos to bring their trolley in — that was sensational.”

Middleton says the Vikings’ culture is as good as it gets.

“That makes it easier to not only be at a club, but stay at a club, and that’s driven by volunteers and the quality of the volunteers.”