24th March 1973 - David Armstrong - An absolute star

[erimus74]

David ' Spike' Armstrong - RIP

On this day the 24th March 1973 just one day short of 12 months before scoring the only goal of the game at home to Oxford United to guarantee us promotion to the top flight, David Armstrong started his amazing, unbelievable, never to be repeated, 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 Boro career, unaware of what he was about to achieve

After making 12 first team appearances, between April 1972 to 27th January 1973, then rested for the following 7 games temporary manager, Harold Shepherdson, recalled Spike back to the first team handing him the No8 shirt at home to Aston Vila, what followed is truly remarkable, playing every single league & Cup game, right up to the 6th September 1980 when we played at home to Forest, drawing 0-0
A remarkable run of 356 league & cup consecutive games on the bounce & when you take into account there were more games with the countless friendlies he played, that his record will 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 52 years since he started that amazing run, with the greatest Boro team in my lifetime which he contributed so much to

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

Still need to read his book

[Johnny Thunder]

We haven't had many true legends but Spike certainly is one Erimus.