Preston-born goalkeeper Tom Armstrong made just one first-team appearance for Liverpool, owing his opportunity to an unusual combination of international call-ups and a registration difficulty. He had served in the Royal Engineers and came to Liverpool’s attention through winger Jack Sheldon, with whom he had served in the army. Armstrong signed amateur forms in January 1920 and had played only a couple of reserve matches when circumstances unexpectedly brought him into David Ashworth’s senior side. Liverpool were without both Kenneth Campbell and Elisha Scott for the visit to Sheffield Wednesday on 13 March 1920, as the two goalkeepers were away representing Scotland and Ireland respectively. Howard Baker was intended to fill the vacancy, but a problem arose with his registration: the paperwork received from Preston covered Central League football rather than the first team. Baker therefore played for Liverpool’s reserves against Nelson at Anfield, while Armstrong travelled to Hillsborough for his Football League debut.
Before a crowd of 12,000, Armstrong’s solitary Liverpool appearance ended in a 2–2 draw, although the visitors needed a late recovery to secure their point. Wednesday led 2–0 at half-time, with Colin McKay and Fletcher Welsh scoring, but Liverpool fought back through Dick Forshaw in the eightieth minute and Donald McKinlay in the eighty-ninth. Armstrong thus finished his only senior outing unbeaten, having played behind a defence that included captain Ephraim Longworth and the eventual equaliser’s scorer, McKinlay. There was still encouragement for the inexperienced goalkeeper after his debut. The Lancashire Evening Post reported on 3 April that he was “still in the rough” but “promises well”, also drawing attention to his strong physique. Nevertheless, his stay at Anfield proved brief. He left that summer, after approximately six months with the club, and joined hometown side Preston North End. No Football League appearances followed there, leaving the Hillsborough draw as his sole appearance in league football.
