From the Pitch to the Track: Retired Footballer Embraces Greyhound Racing with Lofty Goals

From the Pitch to the Track: Retired Footballer Embraces Greyhound Racing with Lofty Goals

Craig Armstrong, a former footballer and current Director of Football at Gartcairn FC, is setting his sights on a new kind of glory—this time on the greyhound racing circuit. With a semi-professional football team that has climbed the Scottish Football League ranks and a growing reputation in the dog racing world, Armstrong is determined to make his mark in two competitive arenas.

During his football career, Armstrong represented clubs such as Aberdeen, Shotts Bon Accord, and Bellshill Athletic. Since hanging up his boots, the 44-year-old has overseen Gartcairn FC’s rapid rise, guiding the team to two promotions in three seasons. Under his leadership, the club boasts over 800 junior members, a senior team, a women’s squad, and inclusive programs for neurodiverse players. Now, Armstrong is channeling his competitive spirit into greyhound racing, a newfound passion that has quickly become a community venture.

Teaming up with Brian Fairbairn—a fellow former footballer turned greyhound trainer—Armstrong has assembled a team of 12 racing greyhounds. Fairbairn, based in Livingston, has a family legacy of greyhound enthusiasm and trains some of the fastest dogs in the country. Their collaboration has already seen success, with their greyhounds Slingshot Sam and Slingshot Ali reaching the finals of top-tier competitions, including the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat and the Arena Racing Company Puppy Cup.

“The thrill of competing and winning doesn’t leave you,” said Armstrong. “We’ve achieved a lot on the football pitch, and now we’re chasing that same success on the track. Seeing Sam come so close to winning our first major competition gave us an incredible buzz—and the whole club is behind this new venture.”

With a community of over 140 supporters already rallying around his greyhound ownership venture, Armstrong’s ambitions are as bold as ever. His primary goal is the prestigious Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup, which dates back to 1938 and offers a £20,000 prize to the winner. The event takes place at Newcastle Stadium during the holiday season, with this year’s final slated for December 27.

“I don’t think anyone has ever booked so many tickets for a finals night months in advance without even knowing if they’ll have a runner,” Armstrong joked. “But that’s the kind of enthusiasm we’ve built—a true community of greyhound lovers who are all in for the journey.”

Fairbairn, who manages the day-to-day training of the dogs alongside his father George, shares Armstrong’s vision. “Craig’s passion for bringing people together is infectious,” he said. “We may be a small team, but we have big ambitions. Every success we achieve feels like a shared victory, thanks to the incredible support from Craig and the owners.”

With their sights firmly set on December’s All England Cup and a promising lineup of greyhounds, Armstrong and Fairbairn are proving that teamwork and determination transcend sports. Whether it’s on the pitch or the track, this duo is all about chasing—and catching—their dreams.