 Armstrong warming up forHarrogate Town in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke Thomas Armstrong[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1996-07-02)2 July 1996 (age 29)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Durham, England[3] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[4] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Carlisle United | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2014 | Middlesbrough | ||
| 2014–2015 | Birmingham City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | Cowdenbeath | 6 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Blyth Spartans | 42 | (23) |
| 2017–2019 | Middlesbrough | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | →Gateshead (loan) | 17 | (10) |
| 2019 | →Accrington Stanley (loan) | 16 | (3) |
| 2019–2021 | Salford City | 25 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | →Hartlepool United (loan) | 28 | (13) |
| 2021–2024 | Harrogate Town | 103 | (29) |
| 2024– | Carlisle United | 64 | (10) |
| 2025 | →Motherwell (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:17, 26 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Luke Thomas Armstrong (born 2 July 1996) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as astriker forNational League clubCarlisle United.
Armstrong came through the ranks atMiddlesbrough andBirmingham City. After a short spell in Scotland withCowdenbeath, he joinedBlyth Spartans who were then managed by his fatherAlun Armstrong. At Blyth, Armstrong would win theNorthern Premier League, attracting the interest of former side Middlesbrough. He had a successful loan spell atGateshead from Middlesbrough before briefly joiningAccrington Stanley on loan. In 2019, he signed for newly promotedLeague Two sideSalford City before joiningNational League teamHartlepool United on loan. Armstrong was a member of Hartlepool's promotion winning team, scoring in the side'splay-off final win in 2021. He subsequently signed for League Two sideHarrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.
Armstrong began his career with Middlesbrough, making his way up through the academy teams until he was released by the club in the summer of 2014.[5] He subsequently joinedBirmingham City's youth setup on a one-year deal after a successful trial period but would leave after he was informed that his contract withBirmingham City would not be renewed in the summer of 2015.[6]
Armstrong then had a successful trial period withScottish League One outfitCowdenbeath, leading to him being handed a one-year deal.[7] After six months with the club, Armstrong decided to terminate his contract due his game time being limited to just a few substitute appearances during the half-season.[8]
Following this setback, Armstrong would joinNorthern Premier League Premier Division clubBlyth Spartans, which was then managed by his father,Alun Armstrong.[9] He would score 23 goals across the season, helping his team to win theNorthumberland Senior Cup and league title, ultimately attracting the attention of one of his previous employers in the form ofMiddlesbrough.[10]
On 16 July 2018, Armstrong joinedNational League clubGateshead onloan until the end of the season.[11] On 29 July 2018, he notably scored ahat-trick against his former clubBlyth Spartans during a 3–1 victory in a friendly atCroft Park.[12] After scoring on hisHeed début, Armstrong would score two goals againstSalford City in a 2–1 victory.[13] He went on to make 18 appearances for the club, during which he scored a further seven goals, by the time his loan was cut short by parent clubMiddlesbrough on 31 December 2018.[14]
Upon his return toMiddlesbrough, Armstrong would sign a new two-and-a-half-year contract with theChampionship club, before being shipped out on loan toAccrington Stanley ofLeague One on 11 January 2019.[15] He made his debut for the club the next day, in a goallessLeague One tie versusBristol Rovers at theWham Stadium.[16]
On 26 July 2019, Armstrong joined newly promotedLeague Two outfitSalford City on a permanent transfer, signing a three-year contract.[17] He scored his first goal againstWalsall, opening the scoring in a 3–0 triumph as Salford won away for the first time in theEnglish Football League.[18]
On 7 December 2020, Armstrong joinedHartlepool United until the end of the 2020–21 season on loan.[19] Armstrong scored a brace the following day on his debut for Hartlepool in a 2–0 win againstKing's Lynn Town.[20] Armstrong went on to score 15 goals in all competitions for Pools, including one in their2021 National League play-off final win againstTorquay United.[21][22]
On 26 June 2021 it was announced that he has signed forHarrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.[23] Armstrong signed a new contract at the end of the2021–22 season that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.[24]
Ahead of the start of the2023–24 season, after the club had rejected transfer bids for him, Armstrong made himself unavailable for selection.[25][26] On the final day of the summer transfer window,Wrexham agreed terms with Harrogate to sign Armstrong.[27] However, the deal was not completed before the 23:00 deadline, therefore Armstrong remained a Harrogate Town player.[27] In a club statement, Wrexham said the "required documentation and clearance requests could not be completed in time and Armstrong's registration has been rejected".[27]
On 18 December 2023, it was announced that Armstrong would joinLeague One clubCarlisle United when the transfer window opens on 1 January 2024.[28] The move was confirmed on 4 January 2024, Armstrong joining for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[29][30] He scored his first Carlisle goal in a 2–1 away defeat toBarnsley.[31]
On 24 January 2025, Armstrong joinedScottish Premiership clubMotherwell on loan for the remainder of the season.[32][33]
Luke is the son of formerStockport County,Middlesbrough,Ipswich Town andDarlington strikerAlun Armstrong.[2] He attendedWolsingham School and is a qualified personal trainer having picked up a Level 3 qualification atDarlington College.[34]
In December 2021, Armstrong opened a cafe inWolsingham called No 10.[35]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cowdenbeath | 2015–16[36] | Scottish League One | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Blyth Spartans | 2016–17[37] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 42 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 23 |
| Middlesbrough | 2017–18[38] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 2018–19[39] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Gateshead (loan) | 2018–19[21] | National League | 18 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 1 | 21 | 11 |
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2018–19[39] | League One | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| Salford City | 2019–20[40] | League Two | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 3 | 26 | 4 |
| 2020–21[41] | League Two | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 4 | ||
| Hartlepool United (loan) | 2020–21[21] | National League | 28 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[d] | 2 | 32 | 15 |
| Harrogate Town | 2021–22[42] | League Two | 45 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 50 | 14 |
| 2022–23[43] | League Two | 46 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 51 | 16 | |
| 2023–24[44] | League Two | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| Total | 103 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 116 | 31 | ||
| Carlisle United | 2023–24[44] | League One | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| 2024–25[45] | League Two | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 24 | 3 | |
| 2025–26[21] | National League | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | |
| Total | 45 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 8 | ||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2024–25[45] | Scottish Premiership | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
| Career total | 302 | 93 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 9 | 339 | 104 | ||
Blyth Spartans
Hartlepool United