Player Profile – Men’s team: Rich Hankey

Author: Toby Hill

• #1 Richard Hankey
• “It is time to prove the doubters wrong”
• DOB: 16/10/1990
• Nationality: English
• Derby debut: 2014/15 vs Carlisle
• Apps: 42
• Goals: 0

Safe hands. Safe legs. Safe face. Rich Hankey saves them anyway he can (see the Derby vs Cheshire highlights for a peno to the chops). The winner of the ‘Manager’s Player of the Year 2019/20’ has put in countless top performances for the club and has proved himself as one of the best goalkeepers outside the top flight.

Hankey began playing futsal in 2008 – a friendly game against Derby no less. Straight after that match he made the decision to join Derby and hasn’t looked back since.

For his highlights of the season just gone, he has picked out two moments: 

The first game of the season against Durham Palatinate. It was a close 4-3 win to get the campaign underway. Speaking about the match, he said: “It was a really tight game and we won at their ground. Personally, I was having a really good game.” 

Hankey also shared his thoughts on the win against local rivals Nottingham later on in the season, he said: “Winning 5-2 against UoN was a fantastic team performance. It is always nice to beat the rivals.”

Looking into the next season, Hankey is confident about the team’s capabilities, “I think we did ourselves a real injustice this season. I believe we are the best team in the league, and we are more than capable of winning it. It is time to prove the doubters wrong,” he said.

Hankey would give his younger self advice to start playing futsal earlier, as he did not play regularly until he was 24. He also said: “Don’t pay attention to what outsiders say, only listen to yourself and people who are closer around you”.