Alun Armstrong (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alun Armstrong was an English
professional footballer.
, where in October 1993 he came up from their youth team. He left in June 1994 having not played for them, and signed to Stockport County
for £
50,000. In 200 games for them, he scored 62 goals. In February 1998 he joined Middlesbrough
for £1.6m. He stayed until 2000, when in March he joined Huddersfield Town for three months on loan. In December 2000 he joined Ipswich Town
for £500,000. In the three years he was at Ipswich he scored 19 goals in 94 appearances, including a header in Ipswich's 1–0 win over Inter Milan in the 2001–02 UEFA Cup
. Armstrong described the goal as "probably the most important of my career, as long as we get a result out there (In the return leg)". Despite Armstrong scoring another goal in the return leg from the penalty spot, Ipswich were knocked out with an aggregate score of 4–2. From December 2003 until March 2004 he was on loan to Bradford City
, scoring once against Norwich City, and in September 2004 he joined Darlington
on a free transfer. He left Darlington in June 2005, to join Rushden & Diamonds. He scored once for Rushden, his goal coming against Halifax Town in the FA Cup. After a spell on loan at Doncaster Rovers, he re-signed for Darlington in August 2006 to join the club on a second spell, before leaving them again at the end of the 2006–07
season. As a measure of how important and respected Alun was to Stockport County fans, during the season's away fixture at County's ground, Alun received a standing ovation along with the familiar County fans chant of 'super, super Al, super, super Al, super, super Al, super Alun Armstrong' when he was substituted in the second half. As he walked from the pitch he turned to the County fans and applauded them with raised clapping hands. The Darlington fans must have wondered what was going on! It was quite an emotional moment and the last time Alun played at Edgeley Park. It is also rare for a former County player to receive such applause from the County fans, demonstrating the respect Alun has and always will have. Only a handful of County players could acheive this kind of respect on a return to Edgeley Park with another team. He scored once in his second spell at Darlington against Hereford. He signed for Newcastle Blue Star
in the UniBond Division One North
before being released days after receiving a red card against Gateshead
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer.
Career
Armstrong's first club was Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, where in October 1993 he came up from their youth team. He left in June 1994 having not played for them, and signed to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
50,000. In 200 games for them, he scored 62 goals. In February 1998 he joined Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
for £1.6m. He stayed until 2000, when in March he joined Huddersfield Town for three months on loan. In December 2000 he joined Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
for £500,000. In the three years he was at Ipswich he scored 19 goals in 94 appearances, including a header in Ipswich's 1–0 win over Inter Milan in the 2001–02 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Armstrong described the goal as "probably the most important of my career, as long as we get a result out there (In the return leg)". Despite Armstrong scoring another goal in the return leg from the penalty spot, Ipswich were knocked out with an aggregate score of 4–2. From December 2003 until March 2004 he was on loan to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, scoring once against Norwich City, and in September 2004 he joined Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on a free transfer. He left Darlington in June 2005, to join Rushden & Diamonds. He scored once for Rushden, his goal coming against Halifax Town in the FA Cup. After a spell on loan at Doncaster Rovers, he re-signed for Darlington in August 2006 to join the club on a second spell, before leaving them again at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season. As a measure of how important and respected Alun was to Stockport County fans, during the season's away fixture at County's ground, Alun received a standing ovation along with the familiar County fans chant of 'super, super Al, super, super Al, super, super Al, super Alun Armstrong' when he was substituted in the second half. As he walked from the pitch he turned to the County fans and applauded them with raised clapping hands. The Darlington fans must have wondered what was going on! It was quite an emotional moment and the last time Alun played at Edgeley Park. It is also rare for a former County player to receive such applause from the County fans, demonstrating the respect Alun has and always will have. Only a handful of County players could acheive this kind of respect on a return to Edgeley Park with another team. He scored once in his second spell at Darlington against Hereford. He signed for Newcastle Blue Star
Newcastle Blue Star F.C.
Newcastle Blue Star F.C. was a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was established in 1930 and joined the Wearside League in 1973. In 1978, it won the FA Vase. Having won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 season via the...
in the UniBond Division One North
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
before being released days after receiving a red card against Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
.