Ken Armstrong (footballer, born 1924)


Kenneth Armstrong was an English association footballer who represented both England and New Zealand at national level.

Club career

Born in Bradford, Armstrong served in the RAF during the Second World War. He was a versatile, tough-tackling and energetic midfielder who played mainly for Chelsea, joining the club from Bradford Rovers in 1946 for a fee of 100 guineas. Armstrong was a key member of Ted Drake's 1954–55 Championship-winning Chelsea side, making 39 appearances that season. He played in over 400 games for the West London club and scored 30 goals.
After leaving Chelsea in 1957 Armstrong emigrated to Gisborne, New Zealand and continued to play football there for several local clubs, including Eastern Suburbs and North Shore United, and won four Chatham Cups. He then took over as manager at Mount Wellington, winning two league titles and another Chatham Cup, in 1973. He played his last game in 1971, aged almost 47. Armstrong was later appointed chief coach of the national side.

International career

Armstrong was a member of England's 1954 World Cup squad but did not travel to Switzerland, remaining in England as one of five players on reserve status. He won a solitary England cap, against Scotland at Wembley in England's famous 7–2 win in the British Home Championship in April 1955.
After emigrating to New Zealand in 1957, Armstrong played a significant part in developing football in his adopted country and played 13 times for the national side, including nine A-internationals in which he scored three goals. In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Soccer Media Association Hall of Fame.

Management career

Armstrong managed National League side Mount Wellington, and was player manager of the New Zealand national soccer team from 1958 to 1964, taking charge of 32 games in that period, winning 11, losing 19 and drawing two. In 1980, he took charge of the New Zealand women's national soccer team.

Family

Armstrong's family is well represented in international football. Sons Ron and Brian also represented the All Whites, while Ron's granddaughter Bridgette Armstrong represented New Zealand at senior level and at the 2008 FIFA U-17 and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cups.

Death

Armstrong died in 1984 and his ashes were scattered at Stamford Bridge.

Honours

Player

Chelsea
North Shore United
Eastern Suburbs
Mount Wellington