24th March 1973 - David Armstrong

[erimus74]

One day short of 12 months before he scored the only goal of the game at home to Oxford to guarantee us promotion to the top flight David Armstrong started his amazing consecutive appearance run

One of the best ever players to come through the ranks of the mighty Boro, David started his 13th game of his short career to date at the Boro, unaware of what he was about to achieve

After making 12 appearances, between April 1972 to 27th January 1973, then rested for the following 7 games temporary manager Harold Shepherdson recalled Spike to the first team & handed him the No8 shirt at home to Aston Vila in a 1-1 draw, what followed is truly remarkable, playing every single league & Cup game, including 99% of friendlies, up to the 6th September 1980 at home to Forest in a 0-0 draw

A remarkable run of 356 consecutive games on the bounce, including countless friendlies, that will probably never be beaten, what a record, a remarkable player who should have regularly played for England, how he didn't is criminal

RIP David Armstrong, such a vital cog in big Jacks & John Neals teams, such a shame he's not with us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the greatest Boro team in my lifetime that he contributed so much to

Along with Harold Shepherdon, big Jack, Ian McFarlane, Willie Maddren, Bobby Murdoch will be watching down on the eventful worthy night on the 9th May

Harold Shepherdsons team v Villa on the date a tremendous record was started

Jim Platt
John Craggs
Frank Spraggon
Nobby Stiles
Stuey Boam
Bill Gates
Peter Brine
DAVID ARMSTRONG
Malcolm Smith
Graeme Souness - 10th appearance
Alan Foggon - 9th appearance
Sub - John Hickton

For me, David Armstrong, Willie Maddren & Graeme Souness would have been good enough to play in any of the best Boro teams in our history, add John Craggs to that list too

[Johnny Thunder]

Absolute class man and player.

[TerryCochranesSocks]

Quality write up on a quality player