Gerry Armstrong (footballer)

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Gerard Joseph Armstrong (born 23 May 1954) is a Northern Irish former footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur.

He spent the majority of his career in England, as well as having a spell in Spain. He represented the Northern Ireland national football team and won acclaim at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where he was the highest scoring player from the UK; this included a shock winner against hosts Spain. He works as a football analyst.

Playing career

Domestic career

Armstrong, who supported English club Leeds United as a boy,[1] began his career in Northern Ireland with St Paul's Swifts.[2] He only started to play football as a teenager when serving a ban from Gaelic football, and feels that his late start in the game was a significant disadvantage.[3]

He subsequently moved on to play for Cromac Albion and Bangor.[2]

In November 1975, Armstrong moved to England, signing with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £25,000.[2] He made his Spurs debut in a 3–1 defeat at Ipswich Town on 21 August 1976, aged 22.[4] He made a total of 84 league appearances for Spurs, scoring 10 goals.[4]

In November 1980 he was signed by Second Division side Watford for £250,000.[2] Watford were promoted to the First Division in the 1981–82 season, and Armstrong scored the club's first ever goal in the top flight.[2]

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I did get stick, particularly when we went to play Valencia, obviously the home fans remembered only too well what I had done to them the year previous, but I was pleased to say we drew 2–2 with Valencia and I scored a goal into the very same net that I'd scored for Northern Ireland.

– Gerry Armstrong, reflecting on his time playing for Real Mallorca after his performances in the 1982 World Cup.

BBC Sport Northern Ireland, 16 January 2005.[5]

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After recovering from a long time out with a broken leg, he moved to Spain in August 1983 with RCD Mallorca for £200,000.[2] Following the goal he scored against Spain in the 1982 World Cup, he was the subject of abuse from opposition fans.

Armstrong returned to England in August 1985, signing for West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.[2] In January 1986 he was loaned to Chesterfield, whom he joined permanently in March 1986 until the end of the season. On his debut, Armstrong scored for the Spireites in a 3–1 home defeat to Brentford.[2] He signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on a free transfer in August 1986.[2] In January 1987, he was loaned to Millwall where he was offered a player-coach role. [2]

Brighton instead recalled him into that same position, but the following year Armstrong left the club after an altercation with a fan at a reserve team match.[2][6] In February 1989, he took up the same position at Crawley Town, before leaving in March 1990 after another confrontation with a fan.[2] He joined Glenavon as a player the same month, and by April 1990 he was also playing midweek games for Bromley.[2]

He then had a four-year spell as manager of Isthmian League side Worthing, combining that with being assistant manager to Bryan Hamilton with Northern Ireland, including scoring the goals to get them to the FA Cup First Round proper, where they lost against Bournemouth.

Armstrong last played competitive football for Brighton-based non-league side Whitehawk in 1997–98, making a scoring debut on 9 December 1997 in 3-1 Sussex County League Cup defeat at Burgess Hill Town.[7] He played twice more in the league for Whitehawk that season.[8][9]

International career

In April 1977 Armstrong made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team. He played alongside George Best in a 5–0 friendly defeat to West Germany.

Five years later, Armstrong was selected for the Northern Ireland squad for the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. After a 0–0 draw in their opening match against Yugoslavia, Armstrong scored the opening goal in the 1–1 draw against Honduras. With Northern Ireland requiring a win to progress to the next stage, Armstrong scored a 47th-minute goal against hosts Spain in Valencia. Northern Ireland even had Mal Donaghy sent off, but held on to win 1–0.

In the next stage, also a group round, Northern Ireland drew 2–2 with Austria, with Armstrong scoring in the subsequent 4–1 loss to France.

Armstrong made a total of six appearances for Northern Ireland in the World Cup and his 12 goals made him Northern Ireland's leading scorer at the time.[10]

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 November 1977 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Belgium flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg link alias-army = Belgian Land Component flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-naval = Belgian Navy flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-navy = Belgian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1-0 || 3-0 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification

2 16 November 1977 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Belgium flag alias = Flag of Belgium (civil).svg flag alias-government = Government Ensign of Belgium.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Belgium.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg flag alias-1858 = Royal ensign of Belgium (1858).svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Belgian Land Component.svg link alias-army = Belgian Land Component flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-naval = Belgian Navy flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-air force = Belgian Air Component flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Belgium.svg link alias-navy = Belgian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 3-0 || 3-0 || 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification

3 29 November 1978 Sofia, Bulgaria {{ Template:Yesno alias = Bulgaria flag alias = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-digital = Flag of Bulgaria (digital).svg flag alias-1878 = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-1947 = Flag of Bulgaria (1946–1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Bulgaria (1948–1967).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Bulgaria (1967-1971).svg flag alias-1971 = Flag of Bulgaria (1971–1990).svg flag alias-naval-1879 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1878-1944).svg flag alias-naval-1949 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1949-1955).svg flag alias-naval-1955 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1955-1990).svg flag alias-naval-1991 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria 1991-2005.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-naval = Bulgarian Navy flag alias-army = War flag of Bulgaria.svg link alias-army = Bulgarian Land Forces link alias-air force = Bulgarian Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-navy = Bulgarian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1971

}} || 1-0 || 2-0 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying

4 2 May 1979 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Bulgaria flag alias = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-digital = Flag of Bulgaria (digital).svg flag alias-1878 = Flag of Bulgaria.svg flag alias-1947 = Flag of Bulgaria (1946–1948).svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Bulgaria (1948–1967).svg flag alias-1968 = Flag of Bulgaria (1967-1971).svg flag alias-1971 = Flag of Bulgaria (1971–1990).svg flag alias-naval-1879 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1878-1944).svg flag alias-naval-1949 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1949-1955).svg flag alias-naval-1955 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1955-1990).svg flag alias-naval-1991 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria 1991-2005.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-naval = Bulgarian Navy flag alias-army = War flag of Bulgaria.svg link alias-army = Bulgarian Land Forces link alias-air force = Bulgarian Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg link alias-navy = Bulgarian Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1971

}} || 2-0 || 2-0 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying

5 21 November 1979 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{safesubst: Template:Yesno alias = Republic of Ireland shortname alias = Ireland flag alias = Flag of Ireland.svg link alias-naval = Irish Naval Service flag alias-air force = Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg link alias-air force = Irish Air Corps flag alias-army = Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg link alias-army = Irish Army link alias-navy = Irish Naval Service link alias-football = Republic of Ireland national football team name alias-football = Republic of Ireland link alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland national football team name alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland link alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland national football team name alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland flag alias-rugby union = Flag placeholder.svg border-rugby union = flag alias-cricket = Flag placeholder.svg border-cricket = link alias-netball = Republic of Ireland national netball team name alias-netball = Republic of Ireland size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || 1-0 || 1-0 || UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying

6 29 April 1981 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Portugal flag alias = Flag of Portugal.svg flag alias-1248 = PortugueseFlag1248.svg flag alias-1385 = PortugueseFlag1385.svg flag alias-1495 = Flag Portugal (1495).svg flag alias-1578 = Flag Portugal (1578).svg flag alias-1640 = Flag Portugal (1640).svg flag alias-1707 = Flag Portugal (1707).svg flag alias-1750 = Flag of Portugal (1750).svg flag alias-1816 = Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves.svg flag alias-1830 = Flag Portugal (1830).svg flag alias-civil = Flag Portugal sea (1830).svg flag alias-air force=Portugal Air force fin flash.svg flag alias-army = Military flag of Portugal.svg link alias-air force = Portuguese Air Force link alias-army = Portuguese Army link alias-naval = Portuguese Navy flag alias-navy=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg link alias-navy = Portuguese Navy flag alias-marines=Naval Jack of Portugal.svg link alias-marines=Portuguese Marine Corps size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1-0 || 1-0 || 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification

7 18 November 1981 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Israel flag alias = Flag of Israel.svg flag alias-1948 = Flag of Israel (1948).svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Israel.svg flag alias-police = Flag of Israel Police V2.svg flag alias-HFC = Flag of IDF Home Front Command.svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Israeli Army (Land Arm) Gray.svg link alias-army = Israeli Ground Forces flag alias-tsahal = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg flag alias-marines = Flag givati.svg link alias-marines = Givati Brigade flag alias-military = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg link alias-military = Israel Defense Forces flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg link alias-naval = Israeli Navy flag alias-air force = Israel Air Force Flag.svg link alias-air force = Israeli Air Force flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg link alias-navy = Israeli Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1-0 || 1-0 || 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification

8 21 June 1982 Zaragoza, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = Honduras flag alias = Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg flag alias-1839 = Flag of Honduras (1839-1866).svg flag alias-1866 = Flag of Honduras (1866-1898).svg flag alias-1898 = Flag of Honduras (1898-1949).svg flag alias-1949 = Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Honduras.svg link alias-naval = Honduran Navy link alias-air force = Honduran Air Force link alias-army = Honduran Army flag alias-army = Flag of the Honduran Army.svg flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Honduras.svg link alias-navy = Honduran Navy link alias-military = Armed Forces of Honduras size = name = altlink = national football team variant = 1949

}} || 1-0 || 1-1 || 1982 FIFA World Cup

9 25 June 1982 Valencia, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = Spain flag alias = Flag of Spain.svg flag alias-1506 = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg flag alias-1701 = Bandera de España 1701-1748.svg flag alias-1748 = Bandera de España 1748-1785.svg flag alias-1760 = Bandera de España 1760-1785.svg flag alias-1785 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg flag alias-1873 = Flag of the First Spanish Republic.svg flag alias-1874 = Flag of Spain (1785–1873, 1875–1931).svg flag alias-1931 = Flag of Spain (1931–1939).svg flag alias-civil-1931 = Flag of the Second Spanish Republic (plain).svg flag alias-1936 = Flag of the Bando Nacional (1936–1938).svg flag alias-1938 = Flag of Spain (1938–1945).svg flag alias-1945 = Flag of Spain (1945–1977).svg flag alias-1977 = Flag of Spain (1977–1981).svg flag alias-civil = Flag of Spain (civil).svg flag alias-civil-1785 = BandMercante1785.svg flag alias-navy = Flag of Spain.svg link alias-navy = Spanish Navy flag alias-marines = Flag of Spain.svg link alias-marines = Spanish Marine Infantry flag alias-army = Flag of Spain.svg link alias-army = Spanish Army flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Spain.svg link alias-naval = Spanish Navy flag alias-air force = Flag of Spain.svg link alias-air force = Spanish Air and Space Force size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1-0 || 1-0 || 1982 FIFA World Cup

10 4 July 1982 Madrid, Spain {{ Template:Yesno alias = France flag alias = Flag of France.svg flag alias-1790 = Flag of France (1790–1794).svg flag alias-1794 = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1814 = Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg flag alias-1830 = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1848 = Drapeau france 1848.svg flag alias-1848a = Drapeau france 1848.svg flag alias-1848b = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg flag alias-1974 = Flag of France (lighter variant).svg flag alias-naval = Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg flag alias-naval-1790 = Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg flag alias-air force = Flag of France.svg link alias-air force = French Air and Space Force flag alias-coast guard = French Maritime Gendarmerie racing stripe.svg border-coast guard = link alias-coast guard = French Maritime Gendarmerie flag alias-army = Flag of France.svg link alias-army = French Army link alias-naval = French Navy flag alias-navy = Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg link alias-navy = French Navy size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1-3 || 1-4 || 1982 FIFA World Cup

11 22 May 1984 Swansea, Wales {{ Template:Yesno alias = Wales flag alias = Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg flag alias-1807 = Flag of Wales (1807–1953).svg flag alias-1953 = Flag of Wales (1953–1959).svg flag alias-1959 = Flag of Wales (1959).svg size = name = variant = altlink = national football team

}} || 1-1 || 1-1 || 1984 British Home Championship

12 14 November 1984 Belfast, Northern Ireland {{ Template:Yesno alias = Finland flag alias = Flag of Finland.svg flag alias-grand duchy = Flag of Russia.svg flag alias-1809 = Flag of Russia.svg flag alias-1917 = Flag of Finland 1918 (state).svg flag alias-1918 = Flag of Finland (1918-1920).svg flag alias-1920 = Flag of Finland.svg flag alias-state = Flag of Finland (state).svg flag alias-state-1918 = Flag of Finland 1918-1920 (State).svg flag alias-state-1920 = Flag of Finland 1920-1978 (State).svg flag alias-naval = Military Flag of Finland.svg border-naval = flag alias-naval-1918 = Flag of Finland 1918-1920 (Military).svg border-naval-1918 = flag alias-naval-1920 = Flag of Finland 1920-1978 (Military).svg border-naval-1920 = link alias-naval = Finnish Navy flag alias-navy = Naval Jack of Finland.svg link alias-navy = Finnish Navy link alias-air force = Finnish Air Force flag alias-military = Military flag of Finland.svg link alias-military = Finnish Defence Forces flag alias-army = Military flag of Finland.svg link alias-army = Finnish Army size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 2-1 || 2-1 || 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

Coaching

In November 1991, Armstrong was appointed manager of non-league club Worthing,[2] leading them to promotion in 1993 and their first ever appearance in the FA Cup 1st round proper. He remains a Lifetime Vice President of the Southern League club. In 1994, he became assistant manager of the Northern Ireland national team, under his former national teammate Bryan Hamilton.[2] In 1995, he left Worthing, and in March 1996 he was appointed a Sussex FA youth coach.[2]

In 2004, he reprised his role as Northern Ireland assistant manager under Lawrie Sanchez. He left the position in August 2006 to concentrate on other commitments, as it was revealed that he and his wife Debby were expecting a child.[11]

Football media

Armstrong had combined his coaching positions with employment in football journalism - in television, in radio and in print. He spent 20 years as a co-commentator for Sky Sports' coverage of La Liga Champions League & International football, and also works as an analyst for the Premier League coverage of ESPN Star Sports.[12]

An outspoken critic of the amount of diving in the modern game, Armstrong worked on talkSPORT radio presenting their show that looked at European Football on Monday night with Gab Marcotti and occasionally pops up as a guest. [13]

Armstrong has appeared on Singaporean media as an analyst on SingTel mio TV's 2014 World Cup coverage which was mirrored on The Straits Times.[14]

As of 2023 he co-commentates for Virgin Media TV in Ireland.

Personal life

Armstrong is three-times married with 5 children total. Originally from the Falls Road in Belfast, he grew up in the times of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and was one of 9 children.[15][16][17][18]

Playing honours

Northern Ireland

References

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  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Whitehawk Official Matchday Programme v Portfield, 13 December 1997
  8. ↑ Official Matchday Programme Mile Oak v Whitehawk 27 December 1997
  9. ↑ Official Matchday Programme Whitehawk v Hailsham Town 27 January 1998
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Top-flight Football Shows for Every Fan, Every Day on ESPN STAR SportsTemplate:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". .
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Catch World Cup highlights on The Straits Times' microsite
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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Template:Northern Ireland Squad 1982 World Cup Template:Northern Ireland Squad 1986 World Cup

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