CHRIS ARMSTRONG

3rd March 1995: The mystery surrounding why Crystal Palace striker, Chris Armstrong was missing from an FA Cup tie two days previously, was solved when it was announced on this day in 1995, that he had become the first Premier Division player to fail a drugs' test. The test made on 23rd January 1995 had tested positive for cannabis. He is now 53 years old.

There was a great debate as to whether punishment or help should be the main response,but he attended a brief rehab programme, before scoring a goal on his return to football on March 14th! His goals didn't help prevent Palace from suffering relegation from the Premier League and in the summer he moved from Palace to Tottenham for £4,500,000, which at the time was Spurs' record transfer fee paid and Palace's record fee received.

In July 2016, Armstrong was arrested for possession of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine after a raid in West Kensington. He pleaded guilty to possession of Class A and Class B drugs at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court and was fined £375. He denied having a drug problem.

In July 2021, Armstrong caused £2,000 of criminal damage and assaulted staff at a Tesco in Chelsea. The staff had refused to open for him to buy cigarettes. He admitted to the offences at Westminster Magistrate's Court the following January. In March, he received an 18-month community order and treatment for his drug and alcohol problems, as well as court costs of £180.

For Wrexham 1989-90: Total apps 70-Goals 16
Millwall: 34-7    

Crystal Palace:136-57

Tottenham H:173-62

Bolton Wanderers: 479-157        

Wrexham: 65-15

Career Total: 479 apps-157 goals

Honours: with Crystal Palace: Football League First Div: 1993-4. AND Tottenham Hotspur: Football League Cup: 1998-9. Individual award: PFA Team of the Year First Div: 1993-4.

Towards the start of his professional career, Armstrong was tracked by Wales, and was called up by Nigeria ahead of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, but turned them down in hope of representing England. Republic of Ireland managers Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy also tried to enlist Armstrong in the late 1990s; he later revealed that his Tottenham contract said that he could only play for England to avoid limits on foreign players in European fixtures.

Armstrong played his only international match on 10 May 1994, a 3–2 friendly win for England B over Northern Ireland at Hillsborough. He came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Chris Sutton.

He received a call up to the England squad by Kevin Keegan to play Poland in March 1999, but was ultimately never capped for the senior side.