Graeme Armstrong (born 23 June 1956) is a Scottish retired footballer who played as a defender or left-winger. He is best known for the longevity of his playing career, which encompassed a Scottish record figure of 910 league appearances over a 26-year period between 1975 and 2001. Including cup matches, Armstrong is one of a select number of players who have amassed over 1,000 career appearances.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 June 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, Left-Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Haddington Athletic | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975 | Meadowbank Thistle | 1 | (0) |
| 1975–1981 | Stirling Albion | 204 | (24) |
| 1981–1983 | Berwick Rangers | 83 | (12) |
| 1983–1992 | Meadowbank Thistle | 353 | (37) |
| 1992–2000 | Stenhousemuir | 268 | (4) |
| 2000–2001 | Alloa Athletic | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 910 | (77) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Stenhousemuir | ||
| 2005–2011 | Newtongrange Star | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn in Edinburgh, Armstrong began his career in the non-leagues in Scotland, including for Haddington Athletic, playing once as a trialist for Meadowbank Thistle, before being signed by Stirling Albion in 1975, making his league debut on 26 April 1975. Over the next 6 seasons "Louis" played in 204 games for the Yo-Yo's before being transferred to Berwick Rangers and then spending 10 years at Meadowbank Thistle.
He then moved on to Stenhousemuir, where he later broke Tommy Hutchison's British record of 863 league appearances.[1][2] With Stenny, Armstrong lifted the Scottish Challenge Cup beating Dundee United in the 1995 final.[3] He also played in the Scottish Cup giant-killing against Aberdeen in 1995.[4]
Armstrong later became manager and guided the side to promotion. He was sacked in April 2000, with Stenhousemuir battling relegation. In 2005, Armstrong was voted Stenhousemuir's all-time cult hero by viewers of BBC's Football Focus.[5]
Armstrong joined Alloa Athletic as assistant-manager, also registering as a player, the following day. He played just once for Alloa, as a substitute in April 2001, at the age of 44 years,[6] before retiring. He was dismissed by Alloa in January 2003 as part of a drive to cut costs.[7]
In 2007, he guided Newtongrange to the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region, South Division championship and promotion to the Premier League. On 8 April, Graeme Armstrong resigned from his post as manager of Junior side Newtongrange Star after 6 years.[8]
Honours
editPlayer
editStirling Albion
Meadowbank Thistle
Stenhousemuir
Manager
editNewtongrange Star
- SJFA East Region Premier League: Promoted 2008–09
- SJFA East Region South Division: 2006–07[9]
- East Junior League Cup: 2008–09[9]
- East Junior South League Cup: 2008–09[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Football: Stonehouse rock of ages". The Independent. 20 December 1998. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Armstrong show old-age benefit". The Guardian. 10 January 1999. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Stenhousemuir 1995-96". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Flashback: 1995 When little Stenhousemuir saw off Aberdeen". The Scotsman. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Stenhousemuir's cult heroes". 11 February 2005 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Clyde 1-1 Alloa Athletic". 7 April 2001 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Shields back at Raith". 26 November 2017 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Armstrong resigns from Newtongrange - the Scottish Football League". Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ a b TEAM MANAGERS
- ^ DECHMONT FORKLIFT SOUTH LEAGUE CUP WINNERS