Chris Armstrong - An Inspiration.
No writer can do an introduction to this interview justice. One doesn't need to dress this story up or give it context or background. Chris Armstrong epitomises many things, one of which is modesty; he doesn't blow his own trumpet or champion any of his achievements. And on this occasion, his brave story is best told in his own uncut words…
I followed my brother into football really - that's how it all began. He used to play for Sunderland and I used to travel home and away to watch him play. I was a Sunderland fan as a result - I used to get a bit of stick for that because all my mates were Newcastle supporters. He was a lot older than me, but he used to come and kick a ball about with me in the garden and show us a few tricks. I used to practice them and try to be like him really. Watching him only made me want to become a footballer too. I'd aspire to reach the levels that he did and that's what I have strived for ever since.
My brother was at Bury when I was released by Sunderland's Academy. And he got me a trial there at schoolboy level. I played a few trial games and they said they wanted to sign me as a youth player. He was basically my first agent and he stayed that way throughout my career. He'd done well for me over the years! Neil Warnock was the manager at Gigg Lane at the time. But then he left to go to Sheffield United soon after. I was just a young lad so didn't have too much to do with him at Bury - apart from cleaning out his car, and polishing his boots. But he has always been a character and someone I always enjoyed working with.
I had a go at centre back on a few occasions…big, strong centre-half that I am! But I was always a left-back, even coming up through the youth teams. And I just made progress. I managed to get into the first team squad when I was about 17 and I made my debut at home to Mansfield. I don't think the team had won in ages, and I remember I cleared one off the line and set one up for Chris Swailes in a 2-1 win. Your debut is always something you look forward to as a young footballer, and it was an experience I'll never forget.
I stayed in the team after that, but the following season I moved to Oldham. Oldham were spending a bit of money at the time and I think they tried to do a double deal form me and Jon Newby. But they ended up just signing me! We had a good season though and I ended up as runner-up in the Player of the Year vote - behind David Eyres who was playing in front of me in midfield - and we just missed out on the playoffs. But it was only my second season in football and I was very happy.
The following season it got better, we got ourselves into the play-offs but we lost to QPR over two legs. We were the better side in both games and we should probably have won it. But sometimes it doesn't go like that. We were going to play Cardiff if we'd got through to the final, but it wasn't to be. You work all season to try to achieve something and when you get into the play-offs you're hoping that will happen. I'm sure the Reading boys this season are prepared for it - at the moment they look like the best team in the league. So fingers crossed!
Then I made a move to Sheffield United. It was a big step up for me. It was an opportunity to go to a massive club, who were hopefully going somewhere. I had played about 10 games, but just as I was looking like I was going to get my place in the side and play regularly, I picked up my knee injury. That was me out for nearly two years. It seemed like forever. At that stage I didn't know whether I'd get back or not. I could have taken my insurance money and given up. But I didn't, I wanted to play football. There were some days when it didn't seem like it was possible. But, when you're a young lad you have no fear. I just wanted to play and I just kept going and going. There were days when I was in agony with my knee. But I was focussed. And eventually it paid off.
My first season back we managed to achieve promotion to the Premier League - a fantastic experience. To be part of a promotion is one of the most brilliant things in football to be honest and hopefully the boys here are going to experience that too. We had a bus tour around the city centre and we went to the City Hall and were presented to the fans. Special times. And just seeing these boys celebrate in the same way this season that would be amazing. Of course, that year, Reading went up as champions. I just remember them being a very impressive side. 106 points - it was an unbelievable total. I remember the 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane in February; I think Sheffield United were the better side that day but Reading had so much self-belief they got themselves a goal and, in the end, they could have won it with a penalty…but Paddy managed to save it. Games between Reading and Sheffield United have always been eventful affairs - especially when Mr. Warnock was involved!
My first game in the Premier League was against Liverpool. We managed to draw 1-1 with them and we were winning until a very dodgy penalty decision gave them an equaliser. We should have won, but I managed to get Gerrard's shirt at the end. I've got one of Rooney's as well as well as a Shaun Wright-Phillips shirt - so not a bad collection. I've not done anything with them yet. I'm in the process of sorting out my home for life and I'll get a room sorted to put up those shirts, along with the ones I've played in. It's on my 'to-do' list!
Playing against some of the best players in the world in the Premier League, at fantastic grounds with the atmosphere they create…every game is a big game in the Premier League and you looked forward to every minute. Because they are fantastic players, you could be made to look a bit foolish against some of them at times, but it was a special experience. If you manage to play Premier League football, you are very lucky.
We were relegated and a season later I moved to Reading. I needed a new start and fresh challenge and it was a great opportunity. Obviously Reading had just been relegated, but I knew they were a great team with great players and top management. It was an opportunity I wasn't going to miss. Steve Coppell wasn't the most vocal of guys, but you knew exactly what he expected of you. He was just a great football manager and he got the best out of me.
There was an extra pressure coming in to replace Nicky Shorey, knowing I was stepping into the shoes of one of the best to have worn the Reading shirt. But I came in and just did my job, I played my own game and was my own player. And we should have gone up. It looked good, but it just didn't quite happen for us. On paper and in practice for most of the season we were the best team in the league. But in the end we didn't prove it. It's a long season and we didn't keep it going til the end.
I was a great honour to win the Player of the Season at the end of that year. Whenever you win something like that it is a massive chievement. And to get that from the fans, makes it even better. They pay their money and for them to show their appreciation in that way was amazing. Picking up the award, the whole scenario was strange. I had suffered the first attack, but I obviously wanted to go out to collect my award in front of the fans. I could only use one arm at the time to wave to the fans, so I had to put one hand in my pocket…it probably looked like I was just being really casual about getting the award. I was hobbling out because one of my legs wasn't working properly. I remember the photo - I couldn't really smile because half my face wasn't working. Obviously I was still delighted to get the award, but it was weird. Nobody knew because I kept it very private. That's the way I wanted it.
I was scared too. They didn't know what it was because it hadn't been classed as MS at the time. I was just getting through it. I was in a lot of discomfort, but for me I was just aiming to get through every day, aiming to get better. That's all I was focussed on. In my head I was wanting to get back for the play-off games! Of course in reality that wasn't ever going to be possible. But in my head I just wanted to play football again as soon as possible - that's the footballer in me. I would have hobbled out there if I could - just chucked myself in goal or something. I would have tried anything to be honest. I think, at that time, it was probably more scary for my wife and family, seeing me like that.
The physios worked with me all through that summer - and they have been fantastic with me throughout the whole process. At some stages I couldn't walk and I couldn't use my arms. They basically had to show me how to use my body again, retrain it. So as the start of the season approached I was just about getting back to normal. But I still knew I wasn't quite right. I got a knee injury which gave me some more time and by the time my knee injury had cleared up in December time, I was pretty much back to normal and looking to get back into the team.
But it happened again, just after the Bristol City game - Brian's first in charge actually. I had another attack and I knew it was going to be a big
struggle to get back again. It was probably even worse the second time. It's difficult to explain it. I lost the use of one side of my body, I had pins and needles, and a lot of pain. It was devastating. My teammates didn't know anything. I don't know why I didn't tell them - maybe I should have. I just decided not to. I thought 'I'm going to get back' so there's no need for them to know really. I think one or two might have realised something was wrong, but they were never going to come out and ask me.
I told Ivar. He was my captain and I get on well with him. He's someone I trust and I needed to tell someone. He was always very positive. He was injured in the summer too, which probably helped me in a way. I was training with him and he was always encouraging me and telling me how I wasn't far away. And the physios were amazing. Jon Fearn was instrumental the first time, Luke and Matt have been amazing, and Dan has done a lot of work with me, massage I needed on a regular basis throughout the season.
And it was the support from my wife that also got me through. Rebecca kept telling me I could do it. She always believed in me. My 12-year-old daughter too. She just gets on with it. It doesn't bother her really. She remembers me being ill but she doesn't see me as being ill. Basically it was just us three at times - and they were the ones that kept a smile on my face.
Getting back to play football this season was probably the highlight of my career. I'm sure a lot of managers wouldn't have taken that risk - so for Brian McDermott to put me back into the team for that game against Barnsley was amazing. He's helped me all along the way. I never felt like he doubted my ability to do it - and that was important. I just wanted to play football - I didn't think I was achieving something. I didn't think of myself being different really. When I got fit, I just wanted to play - that was it.
And it was a fantastic feeling. If I'm honest, I never thought it would happen. At times I couldn't walk - so to go from that to being able to run about on a football pitch and kick a ball about was amazing. Especially on that stage. I would have taken playing football again at any level, kicking around with my mates would have been fantastic. But for my family to see me out there again, and to do it for the fans, it was pretty amazing. I would have loved to have scored. I got myself in the box a few times, but people knew not to pass to us because I wouldn't have scored! Secretly, I would have loved that. But you can't have everything.
Of course I felt the effects of the illness while I was playing. Tiredness was a big thing, blurred vision from time to time, pins and needles in my legs and my feet. And that probably affected my performances a little bit. Some days I felt great. Other days were a struggle. But I got myself out there and did it, I just tried to do my best. Now, it's about managing the illness. Some days I feel really tired and I have to relax and rest a bit more. I go to the MS therapy centre down the road, and get my oxygen therapy there. Pure oxygen is meant to help to repair the damage - they take you down about 30 feet, it's a bit like scuba diving. I think the oxygen is meant to be a bit purer down there; a lot of footballers use it if they've got a bad ankle or something. It's meant to help the healing process and it gives me a bit more energy. And I think I'm sure I'll get more and more involved in the local MS charities - there are different ways of fundraising and I'd love to do what I can at some point.
And I'll still try to enjoy life and do as much as possible. That's what life's about. You can't just sit at home and do nothing. Stay positive and not letting this beat us! I hope that's what I've done so far and what I'll continue to do in the future. I've got a lot to sort out. We're going to move back up to Newcastle, where we're both from. My dad's up there, and my brother, and my wife's family are all up there too as well as a lot of our friends we grew up with. So it'll be nice to be home. We'll miss life down here - it's a lovely part of the world, it's just the right time to move.
And then I'll need to sort out plans for my future. I may go and do my coaching badges and look at that side of football, or if not I might go back to college and learn some other skills…because, to be honest, all I've ever done is football. There are plenty of opportunities out there for me. I'm devastated I can't play football, but it's exciting - there are plenty of other things I can do. I'll always keep an eye out for the lads' results - they are my team now. And of course I'll stay in touch. I wouldn't mind going to watch them play in a few Premiership games next season!!
They are my team now. I'll be after a few tickets if the boys can sort me out. I would love to be at Wembley if we get to the play-off final - although hopefully we won't need that! In the games I've seen recently, the lads seem to be going in to games expecting to win. When you feel like that, the game seems so much easier. It's a rare feeling - a lot of the time you find yourself as part of a team taking to the field scared to lose a game.
It's a dire situation for Sheffield United right now for example. It's a shame because they're a massive club with a great set of fans. But if they do go down, I'm sure they'll be back pretty soon. I'd like to say congratulations to my friend Nick Montgomery, who has just had twins. I'm absolutely made up for him. But the way it's going for Reading, you can't see them losing at the moment. So if that stays the case until the end of the season, we'll be there or thereabouts for that automatic spot. I'm sure the lads will give everything.
