Gerry Armstrong (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Gerry Armstrong


fullname = Gerard Joseph Armstrong [cite web | title=Gerry Armstrong | work= Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats | url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/07/gerry-armstrong.html | accessdate=February 19 | accessyear=2007 ]
height = 6 ft 0 in
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1954|05|23
cityofbirth = Belfast
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1972–1975
1975–1980
1980–1983
1983–1985
1985–1986
1986
1986–1989
1987 (ca)
clubs = Bangor
Tottenham Hotspur
Watford
Real Mallorca
WBA
Chesterfield
Brighton
→ Millwall (loan)
caps(goals) =
84 (10)
76 (12)
31 0(8)
08 0(0)
12 0(1)
47 0(6)
07 0(0) [cite web | title=Gerry Armstrong | work=Neil Brown | url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/gerryarmstrong.htm | accessdate=February 19 | accessyear=2007 ]
nationalyears = 1977–1986
nationalteam = Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 63 (12)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Gerard ("Gerry") Joseph Armstrong (born 23 May 1954 in Belfast) is a retired football player for Northern Ireland. He is best known for his goals in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and is currently a football analyst.

In England

Armstrong spent most of his career in England, having supported English club Leeds United as a boy. [cite web | title= 82 World Cup Live Chat | work=BBC NI interview | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/sport/A733781.shtml | accessdate=July 2 | accessyear=2006 ] His career in England started with Tottenham Hotspur, with Armstrong making his debut aged 22 in a 3–1 defeat at Ipswich Town on 21 August 1976. The following April he made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team, in a 5–0 friendly defeat to West Germany, playing alongside George Best. Spurs were relegated that season, with Armstrong scoring three goals in 21 appearances for the club. The following season the club was promoted, with Armstrong scoring two in 19 appearances. Transferred to Second Division Watford in December 1980, Armstrong again won promotion to Division One.

In Spain

A year later, Armstrong experienced his finest hour at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. After a 0–0 draw in the opening match against Yugoslavia, Armstrong scored the opening goal in the 1–1 draw against Honduras. With his team 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, they could only manage a draw in their three matches, with Armstrong scoring in the 4–1 loss to France. However, Armstrong's goal against Spain is still considered one of the most special moments in the country's footballing history.

For his exploits in Spain, Armstrong won a golden boot award for being the best British player in the competition (England and Scotland also took part). Armstrong was 4th top scorer at the tournament behind the great names of Paolo Rossi, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Zico.

His performances earned him a move to the Spanish league with RCD Mallorca in 1983. Remembered for the goal he scored in 1982, Spanish fans gave him special treatment:"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." [cite web | title=You asked... Gerry Armstrong | work=BBC NI Sport interview | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/seasonticket/ask_gerry_armstrong.shtml | accessdate=July 2 | accessyear=2006 ]

Back in Britain

After two seasons with Mallorca, Armstrong returned to England for spells with West Bromwich Albion, Chesterfield and Brighton & Hove Albion. Armstrong played for Northern Ireland at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico but neither Armstrong nor the team could repeat past heroics. The team drew with Algeria before a loss to Spain. A 3–0 defeat to Brazil signalled the end of Armstrong's international career. He retired from playing completely in 1989.

Armstrong has retained links with football, and was appointed manager of non-league Worthing in 1991. In 1993, Worthing gained promotion, but Armstrong left in 1994 to become assistant manager of the Northern Ireland national team, under his former national team-mate Bryan Hamilton. He reprised this role in 2004 under Lawrie Sanchez, having been considered for the top job at the time.

In August 2006 Armstrong resigned the position to concentrate on other commitments, as it was revealed that he and his wife Debby were expecting a child. [cite web | title=Armstrong steps down from NI role | work=bbc.co.uk | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4776641.stm | accessdate=August 12 | accessyear=2006 ]

Football media

Armstrong had combined his role with Northern Ireland with employment in football journalism - in television, in radio and in print. He continues his role as co-commentator for Sky Sports' coverage of Spanish football, where "Have a look" has been established as one of his catchphrases and it is an in-joke for him to refer to Guti by his full name of José María Gutiérrez at least once every time he covers Real Madrid. He also analyses La Liga as part of the coverage, and regularly voices concern over certain players' simulation of fouls; "A big disappointment for me is the amount of diving in the game nowadays." [cite web | title= Exclusive Interview: Gerry Armstrong - "Spurs are not good enough to finish in the top eight" | work=Square Football interview | url=http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=1067 | accessdate=July 2 | accessyear=2006 ] Other in-jokes in his La Liga commentaries include always giving the Spanish for an elbow in the face ("codazo"), and over-use of the words "quality", "sensational" and "situation", as well as the phrase, "for me..".

He covered the FIFA World Cup 2006 for Asia-based ESPN Star Sports with anchor Harsha Bhogle and fellow expert commentators Steve McMahon & Noel Da Lima Leitao.

In September 2006, Armstrong became co-commentator for BBC Northern Ireland's TV coverage of Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, alongside Jackie Fullerton.

External links

*FIFA player|45793|Gerry Armstrong
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/searchresults.asp?ButtonLe
] at sporting-heroes.net

Notes