Published: Friday, 14th November, 2008 09:00
`Neil Warnock saved my career'
By Anthony Smith
Comments (0)
Print Article
Second chance: Chris Armstrong is eternally grateful to Sheffield United for saving his career.
CHRIS Armstrong owes Sheffield United for saving his career but the Reading defender will be putting his enormous gratitude aside this Saturday when the promotion rivals clash at Bramall Lane (3pm ko).
Armstrong nearly quit football at the age of 23 because of a debilitating knee injury and his insurance company were ready to pay up.
But the Blades, then managed by Royals hate-figure Neil Warnock, took a different view and they tracked down a specialist who miraculously put Armstrong’s career back on track.
The support and dedication United showed him during those difficult years has left an indelible mark on the likeable left-back and, whatever happens this weekend, Armstrong is eternally grateful.
“Obviously it’s going to be a special one for me and I’ve been looking forward to it since I joined Reading, so hopefully we can get a good result,” Armstrong told The Chronicle.
“I was there for just over five years and I have some special memories. We got promoted and relegated so it was an up and down time, but a great place.
“I hope I get a good reception from the fans. We got on well and I think they appreciated that I worked hard for the team. They’re the type of crowd who appreciate that.”
And Armstrong’s appreciation of the Blades is obvious: “I was out for about two years in total,” he explained. “It was a meniscus injury in my left knee which developed into something else. It was one of things that happens in training which kept on getting worse and worse.
“A couple of surgeons told me to retire but I decided to keep on playing. I thought about it but there were people at Sheffield United, like Neil Warnock and the chairman, who told me to keep going and that I’d come back eventually.
“I eventually found a guy in Wales who told me I would be fine so I went to see him and he sorted me out. It was the right decision in the end and I’m very thankful to everyone who helped me.”
He added: “ I was out of the first team for about two years and I came back the year we got promoted to the Premier League. It was a nice way to come back into football.
“Now every day I get to play football is a blessing. I didn’t think that would be possible so I just enjoy every game and hopefully it will last as long as it can.”
Armstrong’s injury meant he was limited to 105 appearances for the Blades in a five-year spell before he joined Royals for £600,000 in the summer.
And in that time he never once played in a winning side against Reading, who have won eight out of the last 10 meetings with United and drawn the other two.
“I don’t think I ever beat Reading playing for Sheffield United so hopefully that will carry on,” quipped Newcastle-born Armstrong.
“But we always had good games and something always happened in them that made it kick-off. They were always special and always tough.
“United have good fans who get behind the team. Their support is big and it can be like having a 12th man. They have the highest attendance in the Championship so we know it is going to be a tough place to go.”
Having considered hanging up his boots, Armstrong recovered to play a valuable role in the Blades team that finished runners-up to Reading in 2005/06 when Steve Coppell’s team won the Championship title with a record 106 points.
He was presented with a special award by Warnock for his courage through adversity but he began to suffer further niggling injuries.
When he returned Warnock was gone after eight years at the helm and current boss Kevin Blackwell had taken over.
Recalling Warnock’s departure, he said: “There was a period last year when United struggled. It was a big change and it took time to adjust after coming down from the Premier League.
“I was injured when Kevin came to the club, then the team went on a good run so I never really got a look-in. But I have no problems with that, it was just one of those things and it was probably my time for a fresh challenge. I’m glad I came to Reading and it’s been great for me so far.
“United have come through that. They have good players and it was always going to turn around. You can see that now, they’re a strong outfit and they’ll be up there challenging this season.”
The Royals are two points in front of United going into Saturday’s mouth-watering fixture but Armstrong’s wish is for the match to be remembered for events on the pitch rather than off it.
The last time the sides met in January 2007 Reading triumphed 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium in the Premier League.
But the day was marred by a mass touchline brawl that left Warnock and Reading coach Wally Downes in trouble with the Football Association.
Ex-Royals defender Ibrahima Sonko also ruptured his cruciate knee ligaments in the same game, while former United winger Keith Gillespie was red carded for slapping Stephen Hunt.
Ironically, it was Steve Sidwell’s reckless challenge on Armstrong that sparked the trouble and the Scotland B international recalled: “The tackle wasn’t as bad as made out at the time. I think the circumstances of being beaten and the frustration of that kicked it all off.
“Hopefully we’ll only be talking about the match after Saturday. We want a good game of football and two good teams going at each other.”
Further Details
Lita in shock recall?