# Finlay Armstrong
**Finlay Armstrong** (full name Finlay Patric Armstrong, born 2003 in Liverpool, England) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Waterford FC of the [League of Ireland Premier Division](https://www.edgepedia.org/league-of-ireland-premier-division). He is left-footed and stands 1.83 m tall.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467) • [2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1329821/finlay-armstrong)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2003, Liverpool, England[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467) |
| Position | Left-back / left wing-back; can also play right-back[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467) • [2](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1329821/finlay-armstrong) |
| Youth career | Burnley FC academy from age 12; professional in summer 2022[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) • [4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/) |
| Senior clubs | Burnley, Fleetwood Town, Rochdale, Waterford FC[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) • [4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/) |
| Rochdale record | 24 appearances across two campaigns (2023–25)[5](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/armstrongdeparts070625/) |
| Current club | Waterford FC, signed July 8, 2025 on an 18-month deal, contract to November 30, 2026[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) • [1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467) |
| Family | Brother of [Harrison Armstrong](https://www.edgepedia.org/harrison-armstrong-footballer) of Everton FC[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467) |
## Youth career and Burnley
Armstrong joined the Burnley academy at the age of 12 and progressed through the ranks at [Turf Moor](https://www.edgepedia.org/turf-moor), turning professional in the summer of 2022.[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) • [4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/) He spent time with Burnley's U23 side in Premier League 2, scoring his first goal at that level in a 1–1 draw away to Wolves' U23s at the start of 2022.[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/)
To gain senior experience he went out on a series of loans around the non-league pyramid from the age of 17, including spells at Padiham, Clitheroe, FC United of Manchester, and Curzon Ashton.[4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/) With FC United of Manchester in the 2022–23 [Northern Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-premier-league) season he made 21 appearances and scored 1 goal.[6](https://fcunitedfan.com/en/profiles/armstrong_finlay/)
## Fleetwood Town
Armstrong left Burnley permanently to join Fleetwood Town ahead of the 2023–24 EFL season.[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) He made his first-team debut for the Cod Army in September 2023, starting at left full-back in an [EFL League One](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-one) match at home to Oxford United, and made two further first-team appearances in the [EFL Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-trophy) in home wins over Tranmere Rovers and Leicester City U23s.[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) In total he made three first-team appearances for [Fleetwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/fleetwood) while also playing regularly for the Development Squad.[4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/)
## Rochdale
In December 2023 Armstrong joined Rochdale on loan from Fleetwood, making 13 appearances for the Dale, starting nine of them, before returning to Fleetwood shortly before the season ended.[4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/) After his Fleetwood contract expired, he rejoined Rochdale on a permanent basis on June 6, 2024, signing a two-year deal.[4](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/)
In January 2025 he moved on a one-month loan to King's Lynn Town of the National League North, at a point when he had made nine league appearances for Rochdale that season, and then returned to Rochdale for the rest of the 2024–25 campaign.[7](https://www.thelinnets.co.uk/townnews.php) • [3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) His final appearance for the club came off the bench in an away win at [Altrincham](https://www.edgepedia.org/altrincham) on [Good Friday](https://www.edgepedia.org/good-friday) 2025.[5](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/armstrongdeparts070625/) Rochdale credited him with 24 appearances across his two campaigns at the Crown Oil Arena, while Waterford's announcement of his signing put his final-season total at 22 appearances for the Dale.[5](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/armstrongdeparts070625/) • [3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/)
## Waterford FC
On July 8, 2025, Armstrong joined Waterford FC on a permanent transfer as the club's first signing of the summer transfer window, penning an 18-month deal with the Blues.[5](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/armstrongdeparts070625/) • [3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) [Waterford](https://www.edgepedia.org/waterford) described him as a wing-back who can play both sides of a back line.[3](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/) His contract runs to November 30, 2026.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467)
His early Waterford appearances came in the 2025 Premier Division, including 78 minutes in a 4–2 win away at Galway United on July 25, 2025 and 59 minutes in a 0–2 home loss to St Patrick's Athletic on August 3, 2025.[8](https://fbref.com/en/players/746e68ad/matchlogs/2025/misc/Finlay-Armstrong-Match-Logs) In November 2025, after Waterford secured its Premier Division status, new head coach [Jon Daly](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-daly) retained Armstrong for the 2026 season, his second with the club.[9](https://www.waterford-news.ie/sport/soccer/blues-confirm-retained-list-ahead-of-2026-season_arid-78509.html)
## References
1. [Finlay Armstrong – Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/finlay-armstrong/profil/spieler/733467)
2. [Finlay Armstrong – stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1329821/finlay-armstrong)
3. [Welcome to Waterford FC, Finlay Armstrong! – Waterford FC, July 8, 2025](https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/07/08/welcome-to-waterford-fc-finlay-armstrong/)
4. [Finlay Armstrong Returns – Rochdale AFC, June 6, 2024](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/finlay-armstrong-returns/)
5. [Finlay Armstrong Departs – Rochdale AFC, July 8, 2025](https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/armstrongdeparts070625/)
6. [FC United of Manchester – Profile: Finlay Armstrong, fcunitedfan.com](https://fcunitedfan.com/en/profiles/armstrong_finlay/)
7. [King's Lynn Football Club News Items, thelinnets.co.uk](https://www.thelinnets.co.uk/townnews.php)
8. [Finlay Armstrong 2025 Match Logs, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/players/746e68ad/matchlogs/2025/misc/Finlay-Armstrong-Match-Logs)
9. [Blues confirm retained list ahead of 2026 season – Waterford News & Star, November 21, 2025](https://www.waterford-news.ie/sport/soccer/blues-confirm-retained-list-ahead-of-2026-season_arid-78509.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2015–present › Defenders › Full-backs and wing-backs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license