Ian Armstrong (footballer)

For other people named Ian Armstrong, see Ian Armstrong (disambiguation).

Ian Armstrong (born 16 November 1981) is an English former footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005 before injury forced his early retirement at 23. He also represented England at under-16 and under-18 levels.

Ian Armstrong

Personal information
Full name	Ian Armstrong[1]
Date of birth	(1981-11-16) 16 November 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Kirkby, England[1]
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2001	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2005	Port Vale	88	(14)
International career
1997–1998	England U16	4	(0)
1999	England U18	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

After coming through the ranks of the Liverpool academy, he signed for Port Vale in the summer of 2001.^[3][4] He made his Second Division debut at Vale Park under Brian Horton, in a 4–2 win over Notts County on 11 August 2001. He scored his first goal on 5 October in a 5–0 win over Cambridge United. He made a total of 34 appearances in his maiden season with the "Valiants", scoring five goals.

He scored eight goals in 34 games in the 2002–03 campaign, including a brace in a 5–1 over Huddersfield Town on 26 April. However, a series of injuries dogged his career from the very start,^[5] severely reduced his impact in 2003–04, and he was limited to 22 appearances. Injuries continued in the 2004–05 season, though he did find the net three times in his eight League One appearances. His injuries ultimately led to his retirement in 2005, at the age of 23,^[6] following an unsuccessful trial with Brian Horton at Macclesfield Town.^[7]

Personal life

He attended Lathom High School in Lancashire^[8] and is a half-brother to media personality Kerry Katona.^[9]

Career statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	2001–02[10]	Second Division	31	3	1	0	0	0	2[a]	2[a]	34	5
	2002–03[11]	Second Division	29	7	1	0	1	0	3[a]	1[a]	34	8
	2003–04[12]	Second Division	20	1	1	0	0	0	1[a]	0	22	1
	2004–05[13]	League One	8	3	1	0	1	0	1[a]	0	11	3
	Total		88	14	4	0	2	0	7	3	101	17
Career total			88	14	4	0	2	0	7	3	101	17

1. Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 27. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
2. "Profile". Port Vale F.C. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
3. "Liverpool primed for title assault". BBC Sport. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
4. "Vale Sign Liverpool Youngster". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
5. "Double boost for Horton". BBC Sport. 11 December 2001. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
6. "Vale boss Foyle releases quintet". BBC Sport. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
7. Chronnell, Liam (20 July 2005). "Silkmen rocked by Parkin blow". Macclesfield Express. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
8. "Manager Owens impressed with goal quality". Liverpool Echo. 19 February 1997. p. 61.
9. "Classic Encounters: Carlisle United". Port Vale F.C. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
10. "Games played by Ian Armstrong in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
11. "Games played by Ian Armstrong in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
12. "Games played by Ian Armstrong in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
13. "Games played by Ian Armstrong in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.