Sinclair Armstrong

Sinclair Armstrong
Personal information
Full name Sinclair Ntomuchukwu Armstrong[1]
Date of birth (2003-06-22) 22 June 2003 (age 21)[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland[2]
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Bristol City
Number 30
Youth career
Cherry Orchard
–2020 Shamrock Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Shamrock Rovers 0 (0)
2020 Shamrock Rovers II 6 (0)
2020–2024 Queens Park Rangers 61 (3)
2021–2022 → Torquay United (loan) 8 (2)
2022 → Aldershot Town (loan) 3 (2)
2024– Bristol City 16 (3)
International career‡
2019 Republic of Ireland U17 3 (1)
2021–2022 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (2)
2023–2024 Republic of Ireland U21 11 (7)
2023– Republic of Ireland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:29, 2 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:24, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Sinclair Ntomuchukwu Armstrong (born 22 June 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Bristol City and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Club career

Early career

Initially starting his career with Cherry Orchard, Armstrong went onto sign for Shamrock Rovers, featuring for their underage sides before making his senior debut, aged 15, in August 2018 in a 1–0 loss to Drogheda United in the FAI Cup.[3] He made 6 appearances for the club's reserve side Shamrock Rovers II in the League of Ireland First Division in 2020.[4]

Queens Park Rangers

In late 2020, he made the move to Championship side Queens Park Rangers, following a successful trial period with the club.[5][6]

On 18 October 2021, he earned his first loan move, joining National League club Torquay United until January 2022.[7] Just five days later, he went onto score on his debut, netting the opener in their 2–0 home victory over King's Lynn Town.[8] Armstrong went onto feature eight more times for The Gulls, adding another to his tally against Weymouth in December[9] before returning to West London. In April 2022, he returned to the National League, this time joining Aldershot Town on loan for the remainder of the campaign.[10] On 26 April 2022, Armstrong made his debut against Bromley,[11] before days later scoring his first goal for the club during a 3–1 home victory over Notts County.[12]

After an impactful pre-season ahead of the 2022–23 campaign, Armstrong was named in Queens Park Rangers' matchday squad for their first game of the season against Blackburn Rovers, in which he made his eventful debut featuring for the final 13 minutes in the 1–0 defeat.[13]

In June 2024, QPR triggered an option in Armstrong's contract to extend his stay with the Championship side.[14]

Bristol City

On July 19th 2024, Armstrong signed for Bristol City on a four-year deal.[15]

International career

Born in Ireland, Armstrong is of Nigerian descent.[16] He has been capped for under-17 and under-19 youth level for the Republic of Ireland.[2] On 8 September 2023, he received his first call up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier at home to Netherlands 2 days later.[17] He made his senior debut in the game, replacing Jason Knight in the 87th minute of a 2–1 loss at a sold out Aviva Stadium.[18] He returned to the U21 side for their game 2 days later against San Marino U21 and scored his first goal at U21 level in a 3–0 win at Turners Cross.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 November 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Shamrock Rovers 2018 LOI Premier Division 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Shamrock Rovers II 2020 LOI First Division 6 0 — — — 6 0
Queens Park Rangers 2020–21 Championship 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2021–22 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23 Championship 22 0 1 0 1 0 — 24 0
2023–24 Championship 39 3 1 1 1 0 — 41 4
Total 61 3 2 1 2 0 — 65 4
Torquay United (loan) 2021–22 National League 8 2 0 0 — 1[c] 0 9 2
Aldershot Town (loan) 2021–22 National League 3 2 — — — 3 2
Bristol City 2024–25 Championship 16 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 17 3
Career total 94 10 3 1 3 0 1 0 101 11
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup & EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy

International

As of match played 10 September 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "EFL Professional Retain List 2021/22". EFL. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "S. Armstrong". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Drogheda United 1-0 Shamrock Rovers: Drogs pull off sensational FAI Cup shock". Irish Mirror. August 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Republic of Ireland - S. Armstrong - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  5. ^ "Hoops teen Sinclair Armstrong completes move to QPR". October 23, 2020 – via www.rte.ie.
  6. ^ Harvey, Lee (23 May 2022). "One Of R Own: Sinclair Armstrong". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Sinclair Armstrong joins Torquay United on loan". Queens Park Rangers F.C. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Torquay United vs. King's Lynn Town". Soccerway. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Weymouth vs. Torquay United". Soccerway. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  10. ^ Webb, Matt (11 April 2022). "Sinclair Armstrong joins Aldershot on loan". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Bromley vs. Aldershot Town". Soccerway. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Aldershot Town vs. Notts County". Soccerway. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Blackburn Rovers vs. Queens Park Rangers". Soccerway. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Sinclair Armstrong contract extended". www.qpr.co.uk. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Armstrong is a Robin". 19 July 2024.
  16. ^ Fallon, John (January 25, 2022). "Teenage kicks: The latest generation of Irish gems providing hope for our football future". Irish Examiner.
  17. ^ "Republic of Ireland - Netherlands | 2024 - UEFA European Qualifiers | 2036407 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  18. ^ Leahy, Ed (September 10, 2023). "Netherlands come from behind as Ireland slump to defeat" – via www.rte.ie.
  19. ^ Cooney, Gavin (September 12, 2023). "Perfect start for the Irish U21s as they cruise to routine win over San Marino". The 42.
  20. ^ "Steve Cook named QPR fans' player of the season". QPR. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.