ZELIENOPLE — It’s not the Hall of Fame, but it might as well be.

Zelienople resident and 1983 Slippery Rock University graduate Tony Hindley will join the SRU soccer Ring of Honor during a 7 p.m. dinner Friday at the Robert M. Smith Student Center Ballroom.

Hindley, 52, was an attack midfielder who still ranks ninth on SRU’s all-time scoring list with 29 goals, 18 assists and 76 points. He shares the program record of four assists in a game.

“I consider this an incredible honor, a true thrill because I’m being recognized by my peers — other players who have come through the program,” Hindley said.

The Ring of Honor is in its third year. Hindley is one of 10 former Rock players being added this year. There were 15 put in back in 2011 and seven last year.

A committee representing players from each decade of Rock soccer decides on who to honor.

Originally from Sheffield, England, Hindley’s family came to Pennsylvania when he was 14.

“My dad came over as part of a three-year mining contract and we decided to stay,” Hindley said.

Hindley played soccer for three years at The Rock after beginning his college career at Alderson-Broaddus in West Virginia.

“I had a connection with the (Alderson-Broaddus) coach, but he left us for Cleveland State shortly after I got there,” Hindley said. “I stuck out my freshman year, then transferred to Slippery Rock.

“I should have gone there all along. I knew a lot of the players because I used to go up there some evenings and kick the ball around with them.”

A North Allegheny graduate, Hindley played on three successive SRU teams that won 10 or more games. No men’s soccer contingent duplicated that feat until 2004-06.

“We had some good teams,” Hindley recalled. “Lock Haven was our nemesis. They won two Division III national titles and one in Division II from 1977-82 and they always stopped us.”

But nothing has kept Hindley from soccer.

He remains an active member of the SRU soccer alumni and plays in an indoor alumni soccer event in Lancaster each year. He said 40 former Rock players participated in the alumni games this year.

“We play on a Saturday each year. It’s just a bunch of us kicking the ball around together again,” he said. “Our alumni group is very strong.”

Hindley served on the staff of the Seneca Valley Soccer Association from 2001-05 and coached the Stars United Club team from 2006-08.

“My daughter (Healy) started to play, so I coached,” he said. “She stopped playing in sixth grade. Horseback riding became her passion and that’s worked out well for her.”

While he no longer coaches, Hindley enjoys watching the English Premier League on TV, along with attending SRU and area high school games.

“Our (SRU men’s) team is ranked eighth in the country right now,” he said proudly. “I’ve texted every alumni member I know about that.”

Hindley played soccer year-round in England as a child “because that’s just what you do as a kid over there” and sees the sport becoming a year-round endeavor locally.

“More indoor facilities have popped up for the kids to play in the winter,” he said. “It can be 20 below 0 in December and 100 degrees in July around here.

“In England, the temperature range is like 35 to 75 degrees. You can always play a game outside. The quality of soccer is getting better and better in the U.S., no doubt about that.”