We would thank Geoff Hampton, a Life Member of both Mt Lofty and Heathfield Aldgate United, did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the important match against Mt Barker for R6 on 24 May 2025.
Growing up in the local area, Geoff was a very gifted footballer who played in 15 Grand Finals at Junior and Senior Levels, becoming a member of 13 Premierships, including 7 in Heathfield Aldgate United’s A Grade and in the first Mt Lofty A Grade’s Premiership in 1981. His achievements show that he was one of the best footballers to have played in the Hills Football League. From the Captain of United Junior Premierships to the winner of 3 A Grade Best and Fairest Awards, the first of which was in 1969 at just 17 years of age, Geoff had also shown outstanding form in lowering the colours of two champion SANFL players when he played in trial games for Sturt.
While he would probably have gone on to be a very good player at South Australia’s top level, he instead decided to remain with his United mates where they went on to achieve the Australian record of 87 wins without loss, that record only beaten 3 years ago after 44 years.
Geoff was a very consistent player who rose to another level in the big occasions as illustrated by the fact that at just 18 he was named best afield after kicking 5 goals from the wing in United’s 1971 Premiership and then, 10 years later, repeat that effort in Mt Lofty’s inaugural A Grade Premiership win when he was again best afield and again kicked 5 goals.
Throughout his career Geoff also carried out a lot of voluntary work, using his building skills in projects for United and Mt Lofty. An incredible level of courage and determination was a hallmark of his football life and his life as a builder after early years as a carpenter. Those same qualities have been a key to Geoff’s inspirational battle against ill health in recent years.
The Hampton family was a huge part of United where all 4 brothers played for the club, with Geoff, Ian “Doug” and Darryl (also a Mt Lofty Life Member) playing in a total of 17 United A Grade Premierships and many Junior Premierships along with youngest brother Phillip. Geoff, Doug and Darryl also played in a total of 5 Mt Lofty A Grade Premierships between them.
Geoff’s dedication to football continued after his playing days when he coached his son Peter’s junior teams for quite a few years, played some B Grade matches in his 40’s and also volunteering for Hahndorf Football Club where the family has lived for over 40 years.
We thank you sincerely on behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty for all that you do for our club.
Geoff, third from left, training on Heathfield Oval with Mark Radbone, Roger Brooks and Coach Warren Foster.Geoff, top left back row in the 1981 Mt Lofty A Grade Premiership side. 10 years after the United Premiership, he was again best on ground and again kicked 5 goals.Geoff, third from the right in the front row, was just 18 when he was best afield and kicked 5 goals in the 1971 United A Grade PremiershipGeoff and Kerry Hampton at the 2016 club reunion. Geoff, centre, with brothers Phillip on the left and Daryl on the right at the 2021 Club Reunion.Geoff with brother Doug at the 2021 Club Reunion.
Sadly Allan Gill, a long term Heathfield Aldgate United volunteer Trainer and past Aldgate Football Club player, passed away last Thursday 19 December. He and his wife Rhonda were passionate United people and both were hard working members of the Club’s social committee.
Living in Goolwa for the past 13 years, they attended the Annual Reunion days when they could and in 2018 got to relive the glory of the 1968 HAU A Grade Premiership and Harry Dean’s winning goal. At the 1968 Presentation Night, Allan had presented Harry with his right boot, with which he kicked the winning goal, and which Allan had painted gold and displayed in a glass case. Allan is pictured in a photo below on the right reenacting the gold boot presentation with Harry at the reunion day.
They were wonderful days and Allan and Rhonda were two people who really added to the vibrancy of the amazing HAU.
Allan will be privately cremated as per his wish.
On behalf of Mt Lofty and the past players and officials of Heathfield Aldgate United we would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Rhonda and sons Jason and Garth and their families on this sad occasion.
Mt Lofty District Football Club On behalf of The Lofty Legends Group and United Golden Years.
Allan Gill on the RHS re-presenting Harry Deans with his Golden Boot at the 2018 reunion.The original Golden Boot and article from 1968 still in our cabinetry at MLDFC
Our much-loved Heathfield Aldgate United Life Member and Number One Ticket Holder of the Lofty Legends Group, Jack Hampton, passed away this week at age 99.
Jack has battled ill health for several years and with the wonderful support of his family, he remained in the family home which he and Joyce built on Longwood Road Heathfield in the early 1950’s, at which time he decided that he should play with the local club and transferred from Stirling to Heathfield.
The amalgamation with Aldgate saw Jack become a key person in the Heathfield Aldgate United Football Club. His service to football in the Hills saw him as a Premiership player, Premiership Coach and an official who took on so many roles, including the ceiling installation in the old change rooms as well as many other tasks required when the Heathfield Oval was constructed. The dedication to the club which he showed, along with Joyce, set the way for his family where both Lorraine, who was sadly lost almost two years ago, and Kevin, were both made Life Members of the Mt Lofty District Football Club. Seven Grandsons have since played for Mt Lofty with Josh Healey now a Premiership Player after another win in last year’s B Grade side.
Our much-loved Heathfield Aldgate United Life Member and Number One Ticket Holder of the Lofty Legends Group, Jack Hampton, passed away this morning at age 99.
Jack has battled ill health for several years and with the wonderful support of his family, he remained in the family home which he and Joyce built on Longwood Road Heathfield in the early 1950’s, at which time he decided that he should play with the local club and transferred from Stirling to Heathfield.
The amalgamation with Aldgate saw Jack become a key person in the Heathfield Aldgate United Football Club. His service to football in the Hills saw him as a Premiership player, Premiership Coach and an official who took on so many roles, including the ceiling installation in the old change rooms as well as many other tasks required when the Heathfield Oval was constructed. The dedication to the club which he showed, along with Joyce, set the way for his family where both Lorraine, who was sadly lost almost two years ago, and Kevin, were both made Life Members of the Mt Lofty District Football Club. Seven Grandsons have since played for Mt Lofty with Josh Healey now a Premiership Player after another win in last year’s B Grade side.
Notices will appear in the paper in coming days.
We extend our sincere condolences to Joyce and their children Margaret, Kevin, Sharyn and Robyn and families and Lorraine’s family.
Jack and Joyce are pictured above in their family home several years ago, and at the 2021 reunion with Vin Pistola and Garry Earl.
2018 Reunion Day – 1968 HAU Junior Colts Premiership – Jack Hampton, Daryl Hampton, Andy Fletcher, David Evans, Kevin Hampton.
We were sadly advised of the passing of Margaret Clements recently who was a dedicated volunteer with the Heathfield Aldgate United Football Club. Margaret was the incredibly supportive wife of Frank, a past Mt Lofty Chairman and Life Member of both Heathfield Aldgate and Mt Lofty Football Clubs and mother of 6 children and their families including Mt Lofty Life Member, Paul who was President during the Triple A Grade Mt Lofty Premiership sides of 2006 to 2008.
Margaret’s family has been synonymous with the Aldgate, Heathfield Aldgate United and Mt Lofty Football Clubs where she was always a significant support to the family which played such a large role in the three clubs, spanning over 4 decades.
With Frank’s heavy involvement, daughter Lyn relates that Margaret eventually decided “if you cant beat ‘em’, join ‘em” which saw her host selection meetings, work in the canteen, making sure young players were provided with a decent meal, (especially with what became known as “Marg burgers”) and washing countless footy jumpers and hanging them in numerical order (even doing that again in her 70’s when Paul was President). Lyn adds “…yes OCD runs so deep in the family that we call it CDO as of course it must be in alphabetical order J There was one occasion when a shower of rain came over, so Margs dashed to the line, grabbed dry jumpers, and then rehung the still damp ones, again in numerical order. Once they were all dry and folded, in numerical order ready for game day, Margs was beside herself as there was one missing! When she gave Frank this information, he asked her which one and promptly started laughing when she told him the number…..apparently this was the jumper of one of the neighbours who had obviously jumped the fence to grab his jumper, not to mention to do Margaret’s head in!”
We will always remember Margaret with her wonderful disposition, a friendly manner, and who amazingly juggled a large family with her career as a nurse. After some years of ill health, she passed away last Friday, but while her family are in mourning, they are relieved that their very much-loved Mother is now at peace.
We extend our sincere condolences to Lynette, Richard, Debra, Heather, Andrew and Paul and their families.
Notice of Margaret’s passing appeared in 14 June Courier.
Margaret pictured with Rick at the 2016 Club Reunion.
Stan Evans is being celebrated today as he does us the honor of tossing the commemorative coin for the A Grade game.
At 91 years of age he is one of our longest serving Life Members and was awarded HAU Life Member status in 1976.
Stan played B Grade for Stirling FC between 1949 and 1955 and then led the formation of the Heathfield Football Club in 1955.
Stan then played for Heathfield, Heathfield Aldgate United and finally Mount Lofty, hanging up his boots at the age of 55.
He has served as president for all three clubs, a devoted man that has spent a lifetime beside his beautiful wife Barb to build these facilities and our great sense of community.
