What to Know About Chris Armstrong

Are you looking for information on former Crystal Palace star Chris Armstrong? Find out about his football career, net worth, drug saga, and current life.

 

How much do you know about the former English football player Chris Armstrong? If you want to find out about the football player’s height, birthday, net worth, and fun facts, you’re in the right place. Armstrong is known for his achievements at Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. He became the first player to fail a drug test when his results returned positive for cannabis.

 

The Football Association (FA) does regular drug testing to discourage the use of sport-enhancing substances in England’s leagues. Can OG Kush auto seeds provide marijuana that enhances performance in sports? The current legislation changes make it confusing. Keep reading to discover more about Armstrong, the footballer, and what he’s been up to lately.

 

Biography

 

Name: Christopher Peter Armstrong

Nickname: Armo, Stretch

Occupation: Footballer

Date of Birth: June 19, 1971

Star Sign: Gemini

Place of Birth: Newcastle

Age: 51 years

Nationality: United Kingdom

Height: 1.83m

Position: Striker

Preferred Foot: Right foot

 

Family Background

 

Amstrong’s father is Irish, and his mother is Nigerian. He grew up with foster parents and played as an amateur goalkeeper in local leagues. Later, he gave up on football at age 16 and opted to pack beef burgers. A friend convinced him to return to the game and introduced him to Llay Welfare Football Club, where his career started. Armstrong has a son and daughter with his ex-partner.

 

Football Career

 

Chris Armstrong, the football player, has had a spectacular career. He’s scored 157 goals in 479 appearances for five clubs in the UK. He’s also played for different leagues and cups in the UK, including:

 

  • Football League Fourth Division (currently Football League Two)

 

  • Football League Second Division (currently Football league One)

 

  • Football League First Division (currently EFL Championship)

 

  • Premier League

 

  • The Football Association Challenge (FA) Cup

 

  • League Cup (currently Carabao Cup)

 

Armstrong’s style of play showed his prowess in setting up winning opportunities and scoring. He was also a quick striker who caused problems for opposing defenses.

 

Llay Welfare

 

Armstrong’s football career started in the Welsh National League, where he played for Llay Welfare. While at the club, another local professional team, Wrexham, noticed the young player and signed him.

 

Wrexham

 

In March 1989, Chris Armstrong signed on a free transfer for another Welsh football club, Wrexham. He made his debut for the football club during the 19891990 season. He spent two years at the club, playing 60 games and scoring 13 times.

 

Millwall

 

In August 1991, Millwall Football Club bought the young player for £50,000. He spent only one season at the Championship club before Crystal Palace came knocking. 

Crystal Palace

 

In 1992, Crystal Palace made a big money move for Armstrong, signing the player for £1 million. It was at this club that his football career peaked. He joined the team during the inaugural season of the Premier League, where he managed to be the top scorer with 23 goals. It wasn’t long before other clubs started noticing the young talent. Newcastle United even made an offer of £4.7 million to sign him in January 1995. Crystal Palace rejected the offer. 

 

Everton, the then FA Cup holders, also showed interest in the player, but Armstrong instead chose to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. Despite his decorated record during this time, the Crystal Palace weed saga attracted a ban of four games.

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

Armstrong joined Tottenham Hotspur in June 1995 for a fee of £4.5 million. At the time, he was the club’s most expensive signing.  His period at Tottenham wasn’t as pleasant, as some criticized him for having a slow start. He faced a lack of playing time and injuries. Despite this, he still scored 48 goals in 141 appearances. The club won the League Cup, currently known as the Carabao Cup, in 1998–1999.

 

Bolton Wanderers

 

Armstrong signed for Bolton Wanderers Football Club in 2002. He made only one appearance for them before returning to his childhood team, Wrexham, at age 32 in July 2003.

 

International Team Career

 

Armstrong appeared in only one England B international match on May 10, 1994. He came on as a substitute in the game against Northern Ireland. In 1999, Kevin Keegan included him in the England vs. Poland lineup, but he didn’t get to play the match.

 

Current Events in Chris Armstrong’s Personal Life

 

Armstrong has found himself on the wrong side of the law, especially regarding prohibited substances. His offenses include:

 

  • Possession of weed, cocaine, and ecstasy in July 2016. He pleaded guilty and got a fine of £375.

 

  • Criminal damage worth £2,000 and assaulting staff at a Tesco store near his home. He pleaded guilty and got a fine of £180 and an 18-month community order.

 

His ex-partner and children were instrumental in convincing the court not to give a more harsh sentence.

 

Chris Armstrong’s Net Worth

 

Chris Armstrong’s income is currently not known since his retirement from football. He’s been reportedly living from month to month, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Fun Facts

 

  • Armstrong became the first Premier League player to fail a drug test in March 1995 after testing positive for cannabis. The penalty imposed was a ban for four matches. Glenn Moore, a sports writer for The Independent, criticized the FA. He argued that marijuana wasn’t a sports performance-enhancing drug, and stoner athletes shouldn’t be a concern.

 

  • He was the reigning top scorer in a single season for Crystal Palace until 2018, when Wilfred Zaha broke the record.

 

  • Due to his mixed background and heritage, several countries tried to entice Armstrong to play for their national teams. These included Nigeria, Wales, and Ireland.