Chris Armstrong (footballer born 1982)
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" Armstrong (born August 5, 1982 in Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
) is a retired professional footballer, who most recently played for Reading
in the Football League Championship
.He retired due to being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He is the younger brother of former Sunderland and Burnley
midfielder Gordon Armstrong
.
A former England
U20s full-back, and Scotland
B International, Armstrong was a tough tackler despite only standing at 5 ft 9in (1.75 Metres).
as a trainee in August 1999, playing 33 games and scoring 1 goal before joining Oldham Athletic
for £200,000 in October 2001, in only his second season as a first-team player. After playing a further 75 games and scoring his second goal, he was signed by Sheffield United
for £100,000 in July 2003 during a financial crisis at Oldham.
at Bramall Lane. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Crewe
on November 4, 2003 only to suffer serious injury a few weeks later. He eventually returned to regular first team football after battling back bravely from career-threatening knee injury problems that limited him to just 13 games in his first season with the Blades and ruled him out for the whole of 2004–05.
After a brief spell at Blackpool
to improve his match fitness earlier in the season, Armstrong became a valuable member of the team that gained promotion back to the Premiership in 2005–06. He was rewarded with the fan's Player of the Month award for March, the Capital One Young Player of the Year and, in July 2006, a new three-year contract. Armstrong was also awarded with a special award by manager Neil Warnock
at the end of the promotion season to mark his courage and return to action after his career threatening injury.
Armstrong was a regular starter over the next two seasons but was often asked to fill in across the field, playing both in the centre and out wide in midfield and defence. He succumbed to several injuries which kept him sidelined through this period and missed much of the second half of the 2007–2008 season due to a groin injury. Following his return to fitness he found himself unable to break back into the starting eleven under new manager Kevin Blackwell
.
he was allowed to leave and signed for Reading
in August 2008 for an initial fee of £500,000 with the potential for it to rise to £800,000 depending on conditions.
Armstrong made his debut for the Royals in the 4–2 home win over Crystal Palace on 30 August 2008. Since then, he has become a first team regular and scored his first league goal for Reading against Watford
on 9 January 2009. He was voted Player of the Season for the 2008/09 season with 80% of the votes.
through his grandmother. And despite appearing for England's under-20 side in the 2002 Toulon Tournament
, FIFA
have now allowed him to represent Scotland.
Armstrong received an international cap
for Scotland B, after being included in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw, against the Republic of Ireland
B team, at the Excelsior Stadium
on November 20, 2007.
in December 2009.
1 Last updated 1 September 2008
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
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...
) is a retired professional footballer, who most recently played for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.He retired due to being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He is the younger brother of former Sunderland and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
midfielder Gordon Armstrong
Gordon Armstrong
Gordon Armstrong, born 15 July 1967 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He now works as a football agent, and has amongst the players he manages a number of current and former players from Burnley Football Club.During his career he played...
.
A former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
U20s full-back, and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
B International, Armstrong was a tough tackler despite only standing at 5 ft 9in (1.75 Metres).
Bury and Oldham
He started his career at BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
as a trainee in August 1999, playing 33 games and scoring 1 goal before joining Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
for £200,000 in October 2001, in only his second season as a first-team player. After playing a further 75 games and scoring his second goal, he was signed by Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for £100,000 in July 2003 during a financial crisis at Oldham.
Sheffield United
Having signed for the Blades in the summer Armstrong made his debut in the first game of the 2003–04 season, a 0–0 draw with GillinghamGillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
at Bramall Lane. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Crewe
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
on November 4, 2003 only to suffer serious injury a few weeks later. He eventually returned to regular first team football after battling back bravely from career-threatening knee injury problems that limited him to just 13 games in his first season with the Blades and ruled him out for the whole of 2004–05.
After a brief spell at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
to improve his match fitness earlier in the season, Armstrong became a valuable member of the team that gained promotion back to the Premiership in 2005–06. He was rewarded with the fan's Player of the Month award for March, the Capital One Young Player of the Year and, in July 2006, a new three-year contract. Armstrong was also awarded with a special award by manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
at the end of the promotion season to mark his courage and return to action after his career threatening injury.
Armstrong was a regular starter over the next two seasons but was often asked to fill in across the field, playing both in the centre and out wide in midfield and defence. He succumbed to several injuries which kept him sidelined through this period and missed much of the second half of the 2007–2008 season due to a groin injury. Following his return to fitness he found himself unable to break back into the starting eleven under new manager Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
.
Reading
With his first team options limited at Bramall LaneBramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
he was allowed to leave and signed for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in August 2008 for an initial fee of £500,000 with the potential for it to rise to £800,000 depending on conditions.
Armstrong made his debut for the Royals in the 4–2 home win over Crystal Palace on 30 August 2008. Since then, he has become a first team regular and scored his first league goal for Reading against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
on 9 January 2009. He was voted Player of the Season for the 2008/09 season with 80% of the votes.
International career
Although born in Newcastle, Armstrong qualifies for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
through his grandmother. And despite appearing for England's under-20 side in the 2002 Toulon Tournament
Toulon Tournament
The Toulon Tournament is a football tournament which traditionally features invited national teams composed of under-21 players, although the first tournament in 1967 featured club teams...
, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
have now allowed him to represent Scotland.
Armstrong received an international cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Scotland B, after being included in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw, against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
B team, at the Excelsior Stadium
Excelsior Stadium
The Excelsior Stadium is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League Second Division. It was built in 1998 to house Airdrieonians F.C., and when Airdrieonians went into liquidation four years later, Airdrie United began playing their home games there.When the stadium first...
on November 20, 2007.
Retirement
Armstrong announced his retirement from the professional game on 8 March 2011 and revealed that he had been diagnosed with Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
in December 2009.
Statistics
| Club | Season | League The Football League The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football... |
FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
2008–091 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 3 | |
| 2006–07 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... (loan) |
2005–06 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
2003–04 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Oldham Athletic | 2002–03 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| 2001–02 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
2001–02 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Total | 199 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 230 | 8 | |
1 Last updated 1 September 2008