Update given on Darlington manager rushed to hospital and will miss match

An update has been given on Darlington manager Alun Armstrong who was rushed to hospital on Friday and will miss the weekend’s match.

The 46 year old is unable to be in charge for the Quakers’ home game against AFC Telford United on Saturday afternoon after being taken to A&E.

Darlo will be overseen by assistant manager Darren Holloway for the game at Blackwell Meadows with the National League North club making a few statements.

At first the club wrote: “Darlington manager Alun Armstrong has been rushed into hospital for a procedure this afternoon.

“Unfortunately, this means that Alun will be missing for Saturday’s home game with AFC Telford United, and so assistant manager Darren Holloway and senior players Will Hatfield and Danny Ellis will be in charge of the team.

“We’re sure that everyone would like to wish Alun a speedy recovery, and hope to see him back soon.

“Please also give Daz, Will and Danny all your support.”

Then the following morning, Darlington updated concerned supporters: “We have received an update from manager Alun Armstrong, who was rushed into hospital in great pain yesterday afternoon.

“Late last night, he had an emergency operation on a strangulated umbilical hernia affecting his bowel, and happily, he is now slowly recovering. However, he will have to remain in hospital for several days, and will probably miss next Saturday’s home game with Hereford as well.

“We’d like to thank everyone for the hundreds of goodwill messages – we have received them from many clubs and fans all around the country — and we’re sure that everyone would like to join us in wishing him a continued good recovery.

“Alun says; ‘My kids have shown me the messages, I’m totally overwhelmed by them all. I just hope the lads get me three points today, I’ll feel much better.’

“Assistant manager Darren Holloway will be in charge of Quakers for today’s game against AFC Telford United, assisted by goalkeeping coach Jim Provett and senior players Will Hatfield and Danny Ellis.

“We would urge everyone at today’s match to give Darren and the players your full support – let’s win it for Alun!”

Alun Armstrong has had a successful operation on a strangulated umbilical hernia after being taken to hospital yesterday.

He has seen all the messages and is overwhelmed by support!

He has told us he’ll feel better if we win today so let’s do it for Alun this afternoon lads! 💪 pic.twitter.com/vMDZZVMsSE

— Darlington FC (@Official_Darlo) October 2, 2021

Twitter users reacted as an update is given on the Darlington manager rushed to hospital and will miss the next match…

@Magpie24_7: All the best Alun

@Markodarlo: Great news!!!!

@Connor_RiceyGFC: The whole of football is wishing Alun the best of luck right now. Come back stronger Alun mate

@hardisty_dave: Good news hope to see you back in the dugout soon 👍👍

@PlumbPeter: Best wishes Alun and hoping for a speedy recovery 💙. Once a blue, always a blue

@MattyJones93: Brilliant news! Wishing Alun a speedy recovery.

@catter100: Great news. Hope he’s on the mend. Three points today please lads!

Wishing Alun a speedy recovery from everyone at Wrexham AFC ❤️

— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) October 1, 2021

Get well soon Alun, sending all my best wishes ❤️

— Anthony Johnson (@amjonno) October 1, 2021

Best wishes for a quick recovery, Alun 👍

— Chorley FC (@chorleyfc) October 1, 2021

Best wishes, Alun. From everyone at York City Football Club ❤️💙

— York City FC (@YorkCityFC) October 1, 2021

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Alun ❤

— Kidderminster Harriers 🦅 (@khfcofficial) October 1, 2021

Get well soon Alun #UTB

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) October 1, 2021

@KevJStewart: That sounds… incredibly painful. Glad the op went well. Get well soon, Alun!

@DanRolls7: Despite all the bullshit, I genuinely hope Alun Armstrong is okay. A great bloke no matter what 💚

@simon_penn: Get well soon! My favourite player when I was a kid. Drew pictures of you. Touched your boots in the dressing room. Got your autograph. And rooting for you now just as much as then.

@darlofan_dfc: Tomorrow let’s see how long we can keep the chant of Alun Armstrong’s black white army going for aswell as pushing the lads onto 3 points

@simonfwhite: Get well soon, Super Alun Armstrong

@crusheralan: A big shout out to our manager Alun Armstrong hope he’s ok get well soon gaffer DTID

ABOUT ALUN ARMSTRONG

Alun Armstrong (born 22 February 1975) is an English former professional footballer and the current manager of National League North club Darlington. During his playing career, Armstrong operated primarily as a forward.

His career as a player, which ran between 1993 and 2007, included spells at Newcastle United, Stockport County, Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, two spells at Darlington, Rushden & Diamonds and concluding it with a brief spell at Newcastle Blue Star. He has also enjoyed loan spells at Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers.

Armstrong entered into club management in 2016, joining Blyth Spartans, achieving promotion to the National League North in his first season in charge. He left the club in 2019, agreeing to join Darlington as their new manager.

HIS PLAYING CAREER

Armstrong’s first club was Newcastle United, where in October 1993 he came up from their youth team. He left in June 1994 having not played a competitive game for them, and signed with Stockport County for £50,000. In 200 games for them, he scored 62 goals. In February 1998 he joined Middlesbrough for £1.6m. He stayed until 2000, when in March he joined Huddersfield Town for three months on loan. In December 2000 he joined Ipswich Town for £500,000. In the three years he was at Ipswich he scored 19 goals in 94 appearances, including a header in Ipswich’s 1–0 win over Inter Milan in the 2001–02 UEFA Cup. Armstrong described the goal as “probably the most important of my career, as long as we get a result out there (In the return leg)”. Despite Armstrong scoring another goal in the return leg from the penalty spot, Ipswich were knocked out with an aggregate score of 4–2.

From December 2003 until March 2004 he was on loan to Bradford City, scoring once against Norwich City, and in September 2004 he joined Darlington on a free transfer. He left Darlington in June 2005, to join Rushden & Diamonds. He scored once for Rushden, his goal coming against Halifax Town in the FA Cup. After a spell on loan at Doncaster Rovers, he re-signed for Darlington in August 2006 to join the club on a second spell, before leaving them again at the end of the 2006–07 season. He scored once in his second spell at Darlington, against Hereford. He signed for Newcastle Blue Star in the UniBond Division One North before quitting days after receiving a red card against Gateshead.

HIS MANAGERIAL CAREER:

On the 22nd of September 2016, Armstrong was appointed as the new manager of Northern Premier League Premier Division side Blyth Spartans. In his first season in charge of the Green Army, he guided them to win the league title at the first attempt, achieving National League North status for the first time since their relegation from the sixth tier at the end of the 2011–12 season.

In their first season back in the National League divisions, Armstrong led Spartans to a tenth-placed finish, four points adrift from play-off qualification. In their following league campaign, Armstrong’s side saw a huge boost of form, eventually concluding the season in sixth place, qualifying for the divisional play-off quarter-finals, his side failed to continue to the semi-finals after defeat to Altrincham on penalties, having recorded a 2–2 draw prior though extra time could not see Spartans push for victory.

On the 21st of May 2019, Armstrong was appointed as the new manager of fellow National League North club Darlington, replacing Tommy Wright.

For the 2019/20 season, before he took charge, the club finished in 10th place based on PPG, and the 2020/21 campaign was postponed with Darlington in 19th, taking 13 points from 11 games played, but had as much as 7 games in hand over teams around them.