Ex-Blade retires - Chris Armstrong

[cooperblade]

Will always remember his goal at Hull. Wish him all the best.

Reading defender Chris Armstrong has retired from football with immediate effect at the age of 28.

Armstrong was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 2009, but had managed to make seven first-team appearances for Reading this season.

However, the full-back has now decided that he is no longer in a position to play at a high level and has called time on his career.

"Obviously this has been a very difficult decision, I absolutely love football but this is the right thing for me to do now," Armstrong told the club's official website. "It's right for me professionally, medically and also personally.

Fortunate
"With the illness, both the medical team and I didn't feel I could regularly perform to the level you have to in the professional game.

"There are so many games, every single one is played at a high tempo, it's very hard to perform week in and week out. I know I gave it my best shot but ultimately I was not physically able to do it.

"I've been very fortunate to play for Reading and all my other clubs, I've been lucky to have a career that I know many people would be delighted to experience. I'll miss being a part of the game on a daily basis."

Reading boss Brian McDermott added: "Chris has been an inspiration to me.

"Over a long period I've had many conversations with him, he's a quiet, unassuming man who absolutely sums up everything that is good about human beings. Nobody could have tried harder and given more than he has given.

"It is important that Chris knows that I personally, and I am sure I can speak for all the staff and players, will always be there for him any time he needs us."

Armstrong made 48 appearances for Reading after joining from Sheffield United in 2008 and also played for Bury and Oldham Athletic earlier in his career.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Just been reading that.....such a shame. He was a very under-rated player in a Blades shirt. Good honest pro and a decent footballer with it. I remember he overcame a career threatening injury while he was with us, obviously has bags of spirit so I'm sure he'll be alright.

Best of luck Chris!

 

[Grecian2000]

Tragic. As Steel says above, he did himself enormous credit overcoming his injury problems and to then get stricken down with MS is dreadful.

 

[Robbie]

I never knew he had MS, and to be honest, it's incredible he has played any games this term as it can affect people massively.

I hope for his own sake, he doesn't deteriorate like I have seen many people with MS do so.

 

[SwissBlade]

Was a big fan of his and credit to him for coming back like he did. The spirit of Armstrong and Del Boy is what epitomises the Blades and is what we lack severely now.

Good luck for the future fella!

 

[JJ Sefton]

A class player I always thought, a real shame to see him retire. Hes two years younger then me!

 

[Stafford Blade]

Hope he gets a massive payout on the insurance, he turned a big one down to carry on playing for the blades. Good luck to the lad

 

[Tuns]

Always admired his tenacity and application and he had a decent amount of natural abilty as well.

many players wouldn't turn down a big insurance payout to risk playing on because they loved the game so much and he makes some of the full backs we've had in last couple of years look like park players.

Hopefully his MS stays under control.

 

[JohnDenver]

Terrible news. An brave, committed player who played a huge part in our promotion season.

MS is an evil malady. Good luck to the guy.

 

[sitwell]

But according to some on here he deserves fuck all and good riddance he has earned enough from the game.

Glad I'm not one of the 'some'. He could have been the left back we have never had but for his injury problems.

 

[raul]

Genuinely upset by this, be nice if there was some sort of game set up twixt us and Reading for the benefit of Chris and/or ms in general.

There but for the grace of God etc.

 

[lenners]

Had no idea Stretch had MS.
His professionalism, attitude and bravery both at United and obviously more recently sure put the current efforts at S2 into perspective.
Good luck to him in the future, he deserves it.

 

[bricktop]

He was a great little player, and would have been established in the Premiership if it wasn't for a cruel mix of injury and now illness.

I really can't think of many more popular players at the Lane over recent years.

 

[i3lade4life]

Very sad news for the fella. Wouldnt wish an affliction like that on anyone.
Just goes to show that there are a lot worse things going on

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Very sad to hear. I personally thought that Stretch stepped up in the Premiership, not dissimilar to Geary - absolutely rotten luck for his career to end this way having fought so hard to keep playing.

He had an excellent knack on his day of slide-tackling players in a hook-like fashion before coming away with the ball. I've seen few others do that so often at the Lane.

 

[Bladesman]

Really sad news.

Always rated him and I wasnt best pleased to see him leave us.

Good luck Chris.

 

[GAZBLADE]

God bless ya Chrissy boy. Great Blade IMO.
All the very best for the future.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I have a niece who died of MS and a sister who suffers with it, so I personally know what a horrible illness it can be. For a sportsman, it must be particularly hard to have it. Good luck for the future Chris.

 

[shorehamview]

But according to some on here he deserves fuck all and good riddance he has earned enough from the game.

Glad I'm not one of the 'some'. He could have been the left back we have never had but for his injury problems.

Good luck to him. But who has said he "deserves fuck all"? There's a world of difference between Chris Armstrong and Ryan France. Armstrong turned down a massive insurance payout to try to play again, and succeeded. He could easily have taken the money. He didn't.

 

[Robbie]

I have a niece who died of MS and a sister who suffers with it,

Sorry to hear of your loss of the niece, but I thought I'd clear this up - you can't actually die of MS itself. It can leave you immune to other things that will kill you though.

Also, from what I understand (years since I last checked into this though, as my mum has had MS for 15 years), it's not normally something that runs in the family, in fact it is very rare to have 2 people in the same blood stream to get it.

 

[Berks_Blade]

Chris Armstrong forced to retire

Heard sad news from our Reading-fan cook at work today. Ex-Blade Chris Armstrong forced to retire due to MS. Apparently he was diagnosed a while ago but wanted it kept quiet - everyone wondered why he could only play occasionally, and would be missing for a few games after a good performance, but he tried to go on as long as he could. There's going to be a tribute to him probably when the Blades are at Reading over Easter as he played for both teams.

 

[mickerz-blade]

Dont you think you should've checked down the page first?

 

[Berks_Blade]

Oops, started a thread on this as had only checked to see if there was a thread titled Chris Armstrong. Was hearing about it this morning from a Reading fan - they'd all wondered why he played so rarely, and was missing for a few games after a great performance on Boxing Day, but it was because he could only physically manage occasional games but wanted to play on as long as possible. The Reading fans rated him very highly (as I did when he came back for us after a bad injury).

They plan to have some kind of tribute to him at a game this season, probably against the Blades at Easter as he played for both clubs.

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 AM ----------

Genuinely upset by this, be nice if there was some sort of game set up twixt us and Reading for the benefit of Chris and/or ms in general.

There but for the grace of God etc.

Something will be done when we play them Easter Monday I hear.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Sorry to hear of your loss of the niece, but I thought I'd clear this up - you can't actually die of MS itself. It can leave you immune to other things that will kill you though.

Also, from what I understand (years since I last checked into this though, as my mum has had MS for 15 years), it's not normally something that runs in the family, in fact it is very rare to have 2 people in the same blood stream to get it.

My niece had chronic progressive MS, was bed bound, fed intraveanously and no doubt died because of the MS at the age of 46, though I know what you mean! My sister (not my niece's mother, but her Aunt, has a milder form of MS and if you saw her, you wouldn't really know she had it. And yes, I know it's very unusual for 2 people in the same family to get MS as it's not heritary.

 

[Muttley]

berks? not Mary is it?

 

[Rodders]

Not again

 

[Berks_Blade]

As I said on the other thread, I did look down the page but looking for Armstrong's name so missed the thread. Terrible crime, I know.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

An ex-girlfriend of mine had MS, and it was affecting her at the age of 21. I've long since lost contact with her, i do sometimes wonder if she's still alive.

 

[Pedders]

Such a shame was a great player and i wish him all the best for the future.

 

[JohnDenver]

Foxy or Linz will merge it for you - give one of them a shout.