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Chris Armstrong (footballer born 1971)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Peter "Chris" Armstrong (born 19 June 1971 in Newcastle upon Tyne
, Tyne and Wear
) is an English
former England B
international footballer who has played as a striker for Wrexham (twice), Millwall
, Crystal Palace
, Tottenham Hotspur
and Bolton Wanderers
between 1989 and 2005.
, where he top-scored with 23 league goals as Palace were promoted to the Premier League
.
In March 1995, Armstrong tested positive for cannabis
, becoming the first ever Premier player to fail a drug test. However, he returned to the game within a month after attending a brief rehab
programme. He finished the season on 16 goals, not enough to save the Eagles from relegation.
holders Everton
, he then joined Tottenham Hotspur
for a fee of £4.5 million, and became, and remained for some time, Tottenham's most expensive signing, replaced only by the signing of Les Ferdinand
for £6 million in 1997 (he was record-holder for Palace's most expensive player sold for even longer - only Andrew Johnson, sold for £8.6 million in 2006, has surpassed him).
Armstrong's time at Spurs was not as successful as he might have hoped. Although a reasonably frequent scorer, he never managed to gain the level of popularity that the likes of Gary Lineker
and Teddy Sheringham
had during their time at the club.
) and back at Wrexham, before retiring.
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...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
) is an English
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...
former England B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
international footballer who has played as a striker for Wrexham (twice), Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
between 1989 and 2005.
Crystal Palace
After short spells with Wrexham and Millwall, Armstrong found a home at Selhurst ParkSelhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
, where he top-scored with 23 league goals as Palace were promoted to the Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
.
In March 1995, Armstrong tested positive for cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, becoming the first ever Premier player to fail a drug test. However, he returned to the game within a month after attending a brief rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
programme. He finished the season on 16 goals, not enough to save the Eagles from relegation.
Tottenham Hotspur
After interest from FA CupFA 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...
holders Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, he then joined Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a fee of £4.5 million, and became, and remained for some time, Tottenham's most expensive signing, replaced only by the signing of Les Ferdinand
Les Ferdinand
Leslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Besiktas J.K., Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England...
for £6 million in 1997 (he was record-holder for Palace's most expensive player sold for even longer - only Andrew Johnson, sold for £8.6 million in 2006, has surpassed him).
Armstrong's time at Spurs was not as successful as he might have hoped. Although a reasonably frequent scorer, he never managed to gain the level of popularity that the likes of Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
and Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester...
had during their time at the club.
Final years
He rounded off his career with two more unsuccessful spells, at Bolton (one League Cup appearance against 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...
) and back at Wrexham, before retiring.
Honours
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
- Winner: 19991999 Football League Cup FinalThe 1999 Worthington Cup Final was played between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, at Wembley on Sunday 21 March 1999. Tottenham won the game, and their third League Cup, with an injury-time diving header from Allan Nielsen...
- Winner: 1999
See also
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences