Left back, now retired, whose extraordinary battle against illness whilst wearing a Royals shirt earned hero status amongst the Reading support.

Initially joined from Sheffield United in summer 2008 for an initial fee of £500,000, potentially rising to £800,000.

Born in the north east, Chris is a Scotland B international who began his career with Bury, becoming a first team regular at the age of 18.

He later joined Oldham Athletic before moving to Sheffield United in the summer of 2003. Neil Warnock signed him at Bramall Lane, having previously managed him at Bury.

He made more than 100 appearances for the Blades, including 27 outings in their 2006/7 Premier League campaign.

Settled in quickly to life at the Madejski and was voted as the club's player of the year in his first season with the Royals, though missed the end of the campaign through injury.

2009/10 saw him make one appearance in the Carling Cup early on, and he was also on the bench just before the turn of the year, but unfortunately fell foul of injury soon afterwards.

He would fight back to play a handful of games in the 2010/11 campaign, including a number of battling shifts out of position in central midfield - however in March 2011 Reading fans learned the shocking news that Chris would be retiring from football at the age of just 28 after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Astonishingly the defender had first learned of his illness in December 2009, but in a remarkable show of bravery and determination elected to keep the news private as he continued to battle his way back into the Royals first team.

Despite calling time on his career Armstrong's story captured the hearts and minds of football fans across the country, who paid tribute to the left back before Reading's clash with his former club Sheffield United in April.

Click here to read more about that day, or here for more information on a special gesture made by two Royals fans to their hero.

An in depth interview with Chris about his retirement can be found here.