Luke Armstrong

Luke Thomas Armstrong (born 2 July 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for National League club Hartlepool United on loan from Salford City.

Luke Armstrong

Personal information
Full name	Luke Thomas Armstrong[1]
Date of birth	2 July 1996[2]
Place of birth	Durham, England[3]
Position(s)	Striker
Club information
Current team	Hartlepool United (on loan from Salford City)
Number	29
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–	Salford City	25	(1)
2020–	→ Hartlepool United (loan)	8	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:13, 30 January 2021 (UTC)

Personal life

Luke is the son of former Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town striker Alun Armstrong.[2]

Club career

Early career

Armstrong began his career with Middlesbrough, making his way up through the academy sides 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 side 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 side 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 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 side, 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]

Career statistics

As of 5 May 2019[19]

Club	Division	Season	League		National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cowdenbeath	Scottish League One	2015–16[20]	6	0	0	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	8	0
Blyth Spartans	Northern Premier League	2016–17[21]	42	23	0	0	0	0	0	0	42	23
Middlesbrough	Championship	2017–18[22]	0	0	0	0	0	0	3[lower-alpha 2]	3	3	3
		2018–19[23]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Middlesbrough total		0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	3	3
Gateshead (loan)	National League	2018–19[23]	17	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	10
Accrington Stanley (loan)	League One	2018–19[23]	16	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	3
Career total			81	36	1	0	1	0	4	3	87	39

1. Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

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. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
5. "Birmingham City Offer New Deal To Talented Teenager Charlee Adams". birminghammail.co.uk. Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
6. "Cowdenbeath Sign Ex-Middlesbrough and Birmingham City Youngster Luke Armstrong and Sam Orritt". deadlinenews.co.uk. Deadline News. 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. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
9. "Middlesbrough Raid Blyth Spartans To Sign Luke Armstrong". The Gazette. 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. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
12. "Gateshead 2–1 Salford City". BBC. 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.co.uk. BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
15. "Accrington Stanley 0–0 Bristol Rovers". bbc.co.uk. 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 Official Site. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
19. "Soccerway". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
20. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
21. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
22. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
23. "Games played by Luke Armstrong in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2019.