Armstrong forced to call it a day

FORMER Athletic defender Chris Armstrong has retired from football at the age of 28.

Armstrong, signed for the Boundary Park club after signing from Bury for £200,000 a decade ago, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 2009 but made seven first-team appearances for Reading this season.

However, the full-back has now decided that he is no longer in a position to play at a high level and has called time on his career.

"Obviously this has been a very difficult decision, I absolutely love football but this is the right thing for me to do now," Armstrong told the club's official website. "It's right for me professionally, medically and also personally.

"With the illness, both the medical team and I didn't feel I could regularly perform to the level you have to in the professional game.

"I know I gave it my best shot but ultimately I was not physically able to do it."

Armstrong made 48 appearances for Reading after joining from Sheffield United three years ago. For Athletic, he played 65 times in two years until leaving for Bramall Lane for £100,000 in 2003.