Craig Armstrong (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steven Craig Armstrong | ||
| Date of birth | 23 May 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | South Shields, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team |
Nottingham Forest (Elite Development Coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–1992 | Nottingham Forest | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1999 | Nottingham Forest | 40 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | → Burnley (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1996 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 1996 | → Gillingham (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 1997 | → Watford (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 1999–2002 | Huddersfield Town | 107 | (5) |
| 2002–2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | 35 | (1) |
| 2004 | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2005 | Bradford City | 7 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | Cheltenham Town | 76 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | Gillingham | 13 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Cheltenham Town | 19 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | → Burton Albion (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 2009 | Kidderminster Harriers | 7 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Mansfield Town | 10 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Forest Green Rovers | 24 | (0) |
| 2011 | Eastwood Town | 8 | (0) |
| 2011 | Boston United | 3 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Hucknall Town | ||
| Total | 485 | (26) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2011 | Eastwood Town | ||
| 2012 | Quorn | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:25, 4 April 2010 (UTC). | |||
Steven Craig Armstrong (born 23 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, manager and currently Elite Development coach at Football League Championship side Nottingham Forest.
As a player he was a defender and midfielder from 1992 to 2012 and represented Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Bristol Rovers, Gillingham, Watford, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Grimsby Town, Bradford City, Cheltenham Town, Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers, Mansfield Town, Forest Green Rovers, Boston United and Hucknall Town. In 2011 he briefly held the position of player-manager of Eastwood Town and later had a spell as manager of Quorn.
Career
Nottingham Forest
Born in South Shields, Armstrong started his career at Nottingham Forest in graduating from their youth system in 1992. Lack of first team action meant in December 1994 he moved on loan to Burnley. He made his debut for the Lancashire club in the 5–1 win over Southend United on 31 December 1994, playing in place of the injured Chris Vinnicombe. Armstrong appeared in three more league matches for Burnley before being recalled by Forest.[1] In January 1996, he joined Bristol Rovers on another loan deal, again making four appearances. However, he was recalled a month later to play a further nine matches at Twerton Park. In October 1996, Armstrong was loaned to Gillingham for whom he played 13 matches as a defensive midfielder. In January 1997, he was loaned to Watford for a month, but his loan deal was cut short through injury. However, he was recalled for a further month in March 1997, with a view to a transfer. However, no move came to fruition. Armstrong scored twice during his spell at Forest with both goals coming in the League Cup in games against Walsall[2] and Cambridge United.[3]
Huddersfield Town
Armstrong left Forest in 1999 when Huddersfield Town agreed a £750,000 transfer. He played 112 matches at Huddersfield and in 2001 he won the Hargreaves Memorial Trophy (Huddersfield Player of The Year Award).
Sheffield Wednesday
He then left Huddersfield, moving to First Division club Sheffield Wednesday for £100,000. He played 29 times (scoring once against Rotherham United)[4] before moving on loan to Grimsby Town in a bid to regain match fitness after suffering an injury. During his spell at Grimsby he scored once against Barnsley.[5] When his contract expired at Sheffield Wednesday, Armstrong found himself without a club.
Bradford City
A year later when he signed a short term contract at Bradford City, where he played only seven games.
Cheltenham Town
In July 2005, he signed for Cheltenham Town, for whom he played 76 times, helping the club gain promotion against former club Grimsby. Although he arrived at the club as a midfielder, he made the majority of his appearances at left-back due to Jamie Victory's long-term injury problems. He also operated effectively in the centre of midfield on occasions and was comfortable at centre half. Armstrong's Cheltenham contract ran out at end of the 2006–07 season.
Gillingham
In June 2007 he rejoined Gillingham on a two-year contract.[6] He made his debut on the first day of the season against Cheltenham, but Gillingham lost 1–0. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Gillingham against Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy on 13 November 2007.[7] On 31 January 2008, he was released from his contract.[8]
Cheltenham Town (second spell)
On 4 February 2008 he rejoined Cheltenham Town until the end of the season.[9] In November 2008, Armstrong joined Burton Albion on loan until January 2009. He scored his first goal on his full debut in a 2–0 win against Eastbourne Borough. Following his return from Burton, Armstrong and Cheltenham parted company by mutual consent.[10]
Kidderminster Harriers
Later the same month, he signed with Conference side, Kidderminster Harriers and remained with the club until the end of the 2008/2009 season.[11]
Mansfield Town
Armstrong signed for Mansfield Town for the 2009/10 season. He was loaned out to fellow Conference side Forest Green Rovers in February 2010.[12] Armstrong made his Forest Green debut on 6 March 2010 in a 2–1 home victory over York City.[13] Armstrong went on to make 13 appearances for Forest Green but was unable to help his loan club avoid relegation. Forest Green were however later reprieved and returned to the Conference.
Forest Green Rovers
In June 2010, Armstrong signed for Forest Green permanently following his release by Mansfield.[14] As well as signing as a player Armstrong spent the first few months undertaking a coaching role. However he reverted to being a player when Gary Seward was appointed as assistant manager at the club.
Armstrong revealed on his Twitter page following Forest Green Rovers final home league game of the season, a 0–0 draw with Wimbledon, that he would not be offered a new contract with the club at the end of the season. He was released following Rovers final day loss against Tamworth.[15]
Boston United
In September 2011 Armstrong returned to a playing career with Conference North side Boston United.[16] Armstrong made his debut against Altrincham in a league game on 8 October 2011 and also featured against Histon and Workington in his month with the Pilgrims.
Hucknall Town
In October 2011, Armstrong signed for Hucknall Town as a player-coach, linking up with manager Des Lyttle.[17] Armstrong left Hucknall because of a budget cut at the club in March 2012.[18]
Coaching career
Having learnt from some of the best managers in the business on 26 May 2011, Armstrong was appointed as joint manager of Eastwood Town alongside Jamie Brough.[19] The season started well with victories against Solihull Moors and Gloucester City. However defeats against Corby Town and Stalybridge Celtic caused friction and after just eight games in charge Armstrong quit as Eastwood boss in September 2011.
After leaving his post as player-coach at Hucknall Town, Armstrong became manager of Quorn in late March 2012.[20]
He currently works as an elite development coach at Nottingham Forest.
References
- ↑ Simpson, Ray (1996). The Clarets Collection 1946–1996. Burnley FC. p. 18. ISBN 0-9521799-0-3.
- ↑ {{cite news Armstrong was sold by forest manager Ron Atkinson to Huddersfield town.|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-walsall-fell-forest-to-send-bescot-barmy-1241145.html |title=Walsall fell Forest to send Bescot barmy |publisher=The Independent |date=25 September 1997 |accessdate=10 April 2011}}
- ↑ "Notts Forest 3 Cambridge 3 (aet, 4–3 on pens)". Sporting Life. 27 October 1998. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
- ↑ "Sheff Wed 1–2 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 23 August 2002.
- ↑ "Grimsby 6–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 28 February 2004.
- ↑ Official Gillingham website
- ↑ "Gillingham 4–0 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 13 November 2007.
- ↑ "Exclusive:Lomas, Graham and Armstrong all depart". Gillingham F.C. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ↑ "Armstrong re-signs for Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ↑ "Hammond pens Cheltenham extension". BBC Sport. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ↑ "Harriers sign veteran Armstrong". BBC Sport. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ↑ {{Cite web=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/forest_green_rovers/8529107.stm |title=Forest Green sign Mansfield Town's Craig Armstrong |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 February 2010}}
- ↑ "Forest Green 2-1 York". BBC Sport. 6 March 2010.
- ↑ "Forest Green sign Scott Bartlett on part-time deal". BBC Sport. 24 June 2010.
- ↑ "Armstrong: I'm sad to be leaving FGR". Sport Glos. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ↑ "Boston United add Craig Armstrong to squad". BBC Sport. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ↑ "Armstrong off to Hucknall". Non League Daily. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ↑ "Yellows slash wage bill". Non League Daily. 2 April 2012.
- ↑ "Eastwood announce joint bosses". Football Conference. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ↑ "Ex Forest man joins Quorn". thisisleicestershire. 30 March 2012.
