Luke Armstrong

Luke Armstrong

Armstrong warming up for Harrogate Town in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Luke Thomas Armstrong [1]
Date of birth	(1996-07-02) 2 July 1996 (age 27) [2]
Place of birth	Durham, England [3]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Carlisle United
Number	35
Youth career
2009–2014	Middlesbrough
2014–2015	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	Cowdenbeath	6	(0)
2016–2017	Blyth Spartans	42	(23)
2017–2019	Middlesbrough	0	(0)
2018	→ Gateshead (loan)	17	(10)
2019	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	16	(3)
2019–2021	Salford City	25	(1)
2020–2021	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	28	(13)
2021–2024	Harrogate Town	103	(29)
2024–	Carlisle United	21	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Luke Thomas Armstrong (born 2 July 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Carlisle United.

Armstrong came through the ranks at Middlesbrough and Birmingham City. After a short spell in Scotland with Cowdenbeath, he joined Blyth Spartans who were then managed by his father Alun Armstrong. At Blyth, Armstrong would win the Northern Premier League, attracting the interest of former side Middlesbrough. He had a successful loan spell at Gateshead from Middlesbrough before briefly joining Accrington Stanley on loan. In 2019, he signed for newly promoted League Two side Salford City before joining National League team Hartlepool United on loan. Armstrong was a member of Hartlepool's promotion winning team, scoring in the side's play-off final win in 2021. He subsequently signed for League Two side Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.

Club career

Early career

Armstrong began his career with Middlesbrough, making his way up through the academy teams until he was released by the club in the summer of 2014. ^[4] He subsequently joined Birmingham City's youth setup on a one-year deal after a successful trial period but would leave after he was informed that his contract with Birmingham City would not be renewed in the summer of 2015. ^[5]

Armstrong then had a successful trial period with Scottish League One outfit Cowdenbeath, leading to him being handed a one-year deal. ^[6] After six months with the club, Armstrong decided to terminate his contract due his game time being limited to just a few substitute appearances during the half-season. ^[7]

Following this setback, Armstrong would join Northern Premier League Premier Division club Blyth Spartans, which was then managed by his father, Alun Armstrong. ^[8] He would score 23 goals across the season, helping his team to win the Northumberland Senior Cup and league title, ultimately attracting the attention of one of his previous employers in the form of Middlesbrough. ^[9]

Return to Middlesbrough and loans

On 16 July 2018, Armstrong joined National League club Gateshead on loan until the end of the season. ^[10] On 29 July 2018, he notably scored a hat-trick against his former club Blyth Spartans during a 3–1 victory in a friendly at Croft Park. ^[11] After scoring on his Heed début, Armstrong would score two goals against Salford City in a 2–1 victory. ^[12] He went on to make 18 appearances for the club, during which he scored a further seven goals, by the time his loan was cut short by parent club Middlesbrough on 31 December 2018. ^[13]

Upon his return to Middlesbrough, Armstrong would sign a new two and a half year contract with the Championship club, before being shipped out on loan to Accrington Stanley of League One on 11 January 2019. ^[14] He made his debut for the club the next day, in a goalless League One tie versus Bristol Rovers at the Wham Stadium. ^[15]

Salford City

On 26 July 2019, Armstrong joined newly promoted League Two outfit Salford City on a permanent transfer, signing a three year contract. ^[16] He scored his first goal against Walsall, opening the scoring in a 3–0 triumph as Salford won away for the first time in the English Football League. ^[17]

On 7 December 2020, Armstrong joined Hartlepool United until the end of the 2020–21 season on loan. ^[18] Armstrong scored a brace the following day on his debut for Hartlepool in a 2–0 win against King's Lynn Town. ^[19] Armstrong went on to score 15 goals in all competitions for Pools, including one in their 2021 National League play-off final win against Torquay United. ^{[20] [21]}

Harrogate Town

On 26 June 2021 it was announced that he has signed for Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee. ^[22] Armstrong signed a new contract at the end of the 2021–22 season that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2025. ^[23]

Ahead of the start of the 2023–24 season, after the club had rejected transfer bids for him, Armstrong made himself unavailable for selection. ^{[24] [25]} On the final day of the summer transfer window, Wrexham agreed terms with Harrogate to sign Armstrong. ^[26] However, the deal was not completed before the 23:00 deadline, therefore Armstrong remained a Harrogate Town player. ^[26] In a club statement, Wrexham said the "required documentation and clearance requests could not be completed in time and Armstrong's registration has been rejected". ^[26]

Carlisle United

On 18 December 2023, it was announced that Armstrong would join League One club Carlisle United when the transfer window opens on 1 January 2024. ^[27] The move was confirmed on 4 January 2024, Armstrong joining for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year contract. ^{[28] [29]} He scored his first Carlisle goal in a 2–1 away defeat to Barnsley. ^[30]

Personal life

Luke is the son of former Stockport County, Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Darlington striker Alun Armstrong. ^[2] He attended Wolsingham School and is a qualified personal trainer having picked up a Level 3 qualification at Darlington College. ^[31]

In December 2021, Armstrong opened a cafe in Wolsingham called No 10. ^[32]

Career statistics

As of 27 April 2024 ^[33]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cowdenbeath	2015–16 [34]	Scottish League One	6	0	0	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	8	0
Blyth Spartans	2016–17 [35]	Northern Premier League Premier Division	42	23	0	0	0	0	0	0	42	23
Middlesbrough	2017–18 [36]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	3	3	3
	2018–19 [37]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	3	3
Gateshead (loan)	2018–19 [20]	National League	18	10	2	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 3]	1	21	11
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2018–19 [37]	League One	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	3
Salford City	2019–20 [38]	League Two	21	1	2	0	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	3	26	4
	2020–21 [39]	League Two	4	0	1	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	7	0
	Total		25	1	3	0	1	0	4	3	33	4
Hartlepool United (loan)	2020–21 [20]	National League	28	13	0	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 4]	2	32	15
Harrogate Town	2021–22 [40]	League Two	45	12	2	1	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 2]	1	50	14
	2022–23 [41]	League Two	46	16	2	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	51	16
	2023–24 [42]	League Two	12	1	0	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	15	1
	Total		103	29	4	1	2	0	7	1	116	31
Carlisle United	2023–24 [42]	League One	21	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	3
Career total			259	82	9	1	4	0	20	9	292	93

1. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
3. Appearance in FA Trophy
4. One appearance in FA Trophy, three appearances and two goals in National League play-offs

Honours

Blyth Spartans

• Northern Premier League Premier Division: 2016–17 ^[43]

Hartlepool United

• National League play-offs: 2021 ^[21]

References

1. "List of Temporary Transfers of Players under Written Contract Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 67. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
2. "Luke Armstrong". mfc.co.uk. Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
3. "Luke Armstrong". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
4. "Triallist Luke Armstrong Handed Birmingham Deal". birminghammail.co.uk. Birmingham Mail. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
5. "Birmingham City Offer New Deal To Talented Teenager Charlee Adams". birminghammail.co.uk. Birmingham Mail. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
6. "Cowdenbeath Sign Ex-Middlesbrough and Birmingham City Youngster Luke Armstrong and Sam Orritt". deadlinenews.co.uk. Deadline News. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
7. "Striker Leaves Cowdenbeath After Six Month's Service". centralfifetimes.com. The Central Fife Times. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
8. "Blyth Spartans 3–2 North Shields". chroniclelive.co.uk. The Chronicle. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
9. "Middlesbrough Raid Blyth Spartans To Sign Luke Armstrong". The Gazette. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
10. "Heed Loan Boro Striker". gateshead-fc.com. Gateshead F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
11. "Gateshead 3–1 Blyth Spartans". gazettelive.co.uk. The Gazette. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
12. "Gateshead 2–1 Salford City". BBC Sport. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
13. "Luke Armstrong Signs New Boro Deal". mfc.co.uk. Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
14. "Luke Armstrong: Middlesbrough Striker Joins Accrington Stanley On Loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
15. "Accrington Stanley 0–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
16. "Luke Armstrong: Salford City sign Middlesbrough striker on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
17. "Walsall 0–3 Salford: City record historic first EFL away win at Banks's Stadium". BBC Sport. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
18. "Pools sign Luke Armstrong". Hartlepool United FC. 7 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
19. "Hartlepool United 2–0 King's Lynn Town". BBC Sport. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
20. Luke Armstrong at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
21. Pilnick, Brent (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
22. "Harrogate sign Salford striker Armstrong". BBC Sport. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
23. "Armstrong signs Harrogate contract extension". BBC Sport. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
24. Rhys Howell (3 August 2023). "Harrogate Town turn down transfer bids for star striker Luke Armstrong as interest intensifies". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
25. Leon Wobschall (5 August 2023). "Harrogate Town transfer news: Former Middlesbrough and Hartlepool striker Luke Armstrong 'makes himself unavailable for selection' for League Two opener at Doncaster Rovers". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
26. "Luke Armstrong: Wrexham deal for Harrogate striker not completed before deadline". BBC Sport. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
27. "Luke Armstrong: Carlisle United agree deal to sign Harrogate Town striker". BBC Sport. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
28. "CONTRACT: Luke Armstrong signing confirmed". www.carlisleunited.co.uk. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
29. "Carlisle sign midfielder Neal and defender Grehan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
30. Jon Colman (16 January 2024). "Barnsley 2–1 Carlisle United: late penalty pain for Blues". News & Star. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
31. "Sports Student, Luke Signs Contract for Middlesbrough Football Club". Darlington College. 10 May 2017.
32. "Top Scorer Luke Armstrong Extends Town Contract". Northern Echo. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
33. Luke Armstrong at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
34. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
35. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
36. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
37. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
38. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
39. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
40. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
41. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
42. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
43. Watters, David (10 April 2017). "Championship Splits Father And Son". Northern Premier League. Retrieved 20 June 2021– via Pitch Hero.