Bishop’s Stortford winger Nick Hankin on fatherhood and pushing 250 games

Nick Hankin reached a big milestone at Bishop’s Stortford last season just a day after becoming a dad for the first time - and he is not ready to stop racking up the games and the tries just yet.

The flying winger, who has dotted down more than 100 times for the club, is gearing up for his 11th season at Silver Leys at the age of 33.

He made his 200th appearance for Stortford last season, with the big day against Sedgley Park on October 14 coming just 24 hours after he and wife Grace welcomed baby daughter Vivienne into the world.

Hankin says becoming a father has changed him, but has not altered his desire to help the team finish as high up the National 1 table as possible.

“In a game against Darlington last season there was a big collision and it didn’t look pretty. My mum said to me ‘you’ve got to be careful now and think of Vivienne and Grace’,” said Hankin.

“I tend not to because if I do it might alter my game a little bit, but you have to.

“I try to gym a little bit more at home now so I can come back from work, have some time with Vivienne and still have a workout.

“It has changed me and I’m not keen on going out as much anymore. It’s different and I’m much happier to come home and have family time.”

Hankin is looking forward to working with his former team-mate and captain Tom Coleman after his return as head coach.

And he believes hard work done in pre-season, along with good recruitment, can make Stortford a force to be reckoned with once again after they narrowly avoided relegation last term.

“Conditioning-wise I think we’re in a good place and the new boys coming in will help strengthen us,” said Hankin.

“I’ve played and worked with Tom and I know he’ll be on it in terms of what he wants and expects from us.

“It takes a bit of time for everyone to get settled in, but I’m positive. If I can stay injury-free and a few of the boys can stay injury-free then I think it’s going to be a very good season.

“We want to play the Stortford way, spreading the ball when we can, and be competitive. It’s exciting times, even at 33!”

Hankin joked he was already training his 10-month-old daughter to be an Olympian after being inspired by the Paris Games this summer.

But he does expect Vivienne to be good at sports if she is interested later in life. And with Stortford’s blossoming ladies’ section, she may even follow in her dad’s footsteps one day.

“My wife was very good at volleyball when she was younger and I’ve always been sporty and come from a sporty family, so she’ll be doing something, I’m sure, if she wants to,” said Hankin.

And what are the chances of his little girl seeing him run out for his 250th Stortford appearance?

Reaching that milestone would involve him playing into at least the 2025-26 season as he is currently on 213 appearances and there are only 26 games in a campaign.

“That’s a conversation for later with my wife,” said Hankin.