David Rocastle

David Carlyle Rocastle (2 May 1967 – 31 March 2001) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the roles of a playmaker and a winger.[3][4]

David Rocastle
Personal information
Full name David Carlyle Rocastle[1]
Date of birth (1967-05-02)2 May 1967[1]
Place of birth Lewisham, London, England[1]
Date of death 31 March 2001(2001-03-31) (aged 33)[1]
Place of death Slough, Berkshire, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1982–1985 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1992 Arsenal 228 (23)
1992–1993 Leeds United 25 (2)
1993–1994 Manchester City 21 (2)
1994–1998 Chelsea 29 (0)
1997 → Norwich City (loan) 11 (0)
1997 → Hull City (loan) 11 (1)
1999 Sabah ? (?)
Total 325 (28)
National team
1986–1988 England U21 14 (2)
1988–1992 England B 2 (0)
1988–1992 England 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent the majority of his career at Arsenal where he was nicknamed "Rocky". Rocastle then went on to feature in the Premier League for Leeds United, Manchester City and Chelsea, before later playing in the Football League for Norwich City and Hull City and finishing his career in Malaysia with Sabah FA. Rocastle also played for the England national football team, in all earning 14 international caps for the Three Lions.[3]

Arsène Wenger, who became Arsenal manager four years after Rocastle left the club, has described him as "a modern player, because the revolution of the game has gone on to more technique, and more skill" and as having an "exceptional dimension as a footballer". Rocastle is seen as a universally popular, iconic and legendary figure by many fans of the Gunners. The David Rocastle indoor centre at Arsenal's academy is named after him and his name is displayed at the Emirates Stadium.[5][6]

Playing career

Rocastle was born in Lewisham on 2 May 1967 to Caribbean immigrants Leslie and Linda Rocastle, who moved to London during the 1950s.[7] His father died aged 29 in 1972 from pneumonia[8] when Rocastle was five years old, and his mother Linda subsequently remarried and had two more children. Rocastle attended the Turnham Primary School and the Roger Manwood secondary school in his teenage years.[9]

Arsenal

After being rejected by Millwall, Rocastle joined Arsenal's Academy under Terry Neill in May 1982 and was given a professional contract in December 1984 by Neill's successor Don Howe.[10][11] In his early career he faced problems with his eyesight, and contact lenses had to be used. According to his teammate Martin Keown "They couldn't work out why Rocastle was running around dribbling with his head down. So they took him to the halfway line and said: 'Can you see the goal?' and he couldn't. His eyesight was terrible. They sorted him out with contact lenses and his career took off."[12]

He made his debut against Newcastle United in 1985 and made 26 league appearances in the 1984–85 season, scoring once as Arsenal finished seventh in the league. He remained a regular player in the first team following the departure of Don Howe and the appointment of George Graham as manager at the end of the 1985–86 season.[13]

Rocastle went on to score the winning goal in the 1986-87 League Cup semi-final replay against Tottenham Hotspur which was won by a margin of 2 goals to 1 at White Hart Lane. The month before his 20th birthday he won a 1986–87 League Cup winners medal as Arsenal beat Liverpool 2–1 in the cup final at Wembley.[14] Due to his feats during this season, Rocastle was bestowed with the honour of being named in 1987's PFA Team of the Year and as well won the 1987 Barclays Young Eagle award.[15] In the following season, he was again an influential member of the Arsenal side which reached the 1987–88 League Cup final against Luton Town the following year. In the game Arsenal surrendered a 2–1 lead with only seven minutes of the final left to play, and ended up losing 3–2 to a last minute Luton goal.[16] He was also ever present for the Gunners in the 1987–88 season, helping Arsenal win the Football League Centenary Trophy in a 2–1 win over Manchester United.[17]

In January 1987, Arsenal were away to Manchester United at Old Trafford. During the match Rocastle was sent off for retaliating to a tackle by United midfielder Norman Whiteside, a move which caused a huge scuffle between several of the opposing players. This scenario has been illustrated by many as the start of the fierce rivalry which now exists between the two clubs, especially as the two clubs being actively involved in competition for major honours almost every season since.[18][19]

Rocastle's first league championship with Arsenal came in 1989, when he played in every game that season. Arsenal's success was sealed when they beat Liverpool 2–0 in the final game of the season at Anfield, snatching the title from the hosts on goals scored. As so Rocastle won the Barclays Young Eagle award, being once again bestowed with the honour in 1989. Arsenal were however unable to compete in the 1989–90 European Cup because the ban on English clubs in European competition after the 1985 Heysel tragedy still had one year to run, but Rocastle would have the chance of playing in Europe's premier club competition twice over the next few seasons. Arsenal went on to finish fourth in the 1989–90 league season, missing out on a return to Europe as only the runners-up were entitled to a UEFA Cup place.[10][9][20]

In 1990–91, Rocastle was limited to just 16 league appearances due to a knee injury but he still played more than enough games to win another league title medal with Arsenal, who lost only one game that season. The following season, he played 39 league games for the Gunners and scored four league goals, also tasting European football for the first time as Arsenal reached the second round of the European Cup.

Rocastle scored 34 goals and played 228 times in seven years for Arsenal, collecting two league title medals and a winner's medal in the League Cup.[21]

Leeds United

On 23 July 1992, Rocastle's decade at Arsenal came to an end when he was sold to reigning league champions Leeds United, in a deal that several Arsenal fans, teammates and football writers saw as doltish, cold and woeful. This view stemmed from the way in which the midfielder was dealt with by manager George Graham, given his fine performances and return to fitness during 1991–92, his general popularity and the player's stated opposition to the deal.[22][23][24]

The player's arrival at Leeds United made him, up to that point, the club's' most expensive signing at up to £2 million. Manager Howard Wilkinson saw Rocastle as an eventual replacement for the veteran midfielder Gordon Strachan. However, Strachan would go on to spend nearly three more years at Elland Road and remained a regular first team player for two more seasons, by which time Rocastle had left the West Yorkshire club.

With Leeds, a 25-year-old Rocastle entered the first-ever Premier League by winning the 1992 FA Charity Shield at Wembley.[3] He went on to make his debut for the club in a European Cup tie away to Bundesliga side VFB Stuttgart. Rocastle soon became a club favourite with him often being stylish and skillful upon the field of play. Rocastle as well scored in a 4–1 league victory over club rivals Chelsea in November 1993, although he missed a large number of games due to injury problems. He went on to play a total of 34 games for Leeds, scoring two goals.[25][26]

Manchester City

He was at the club until December 1993, when he moved to Maine Road for £2 million as replacement for David White, who in turn had joined Leeds earlier that month.

In going to Manchester City Rocastle scored two goals from 21 Premier League games as City finished 16th – their lowest finish since winning promotion to the top flight in 1989. At the end of the season, manager Brian Horton signed the Swindon Town winger Nicky Summerbee, putting Rocastle's future at Maine Road in doubt.

Chelsea

Just before the start of the 1994–95 season, Rocastle returned to London when he signed for Chelsea in a £1.25 million deal. Rocastle would go on to play 37 times for Chelsea and scored two goals in his time there.[27][28][29][30] One of these came in a League Cup win over Bournemouth with the other being netted in a 1995 European Cup Winners Cup's first-round game against FK Viktoria Žižkov. With the influential Rocastle in tow and playing regularly, Chelsea reached the semi finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, going out to eventual winners Real Zaragoza by a single goal on aggregate.[31][32][33]

Injury problems returned to haunt Rocastle in 1995–96, and he played just one game all season. This would be the last game that Rocastle played for Chelsea, although he remained with the club for nearly three more years.[34]

In 1996–97, Rocastle was loaned out to Norwich City in Division One, and also had trials with clubs including Aberdeen and Southampton shortly afterwards..

In October 1997, Rocastle was loaned out to Hull City in Division Three, and scored on his debut for the Tigers against Scarborough.[35]

Sabah FA

Rocastle eventually left Chelsea in the summer of 1998 to join up with Malaysian team Sabah on a free transfer. He quickly became a highly influential and popular player at the club. Rocastle then saw Sabah upon a memorable run to the 1998 Malaysian FA Cup final where he earned a runners up medal. He eventually brought his playing days to an end in December 1999 due to injury.[5][9]

International career

After making two appearances for the England 'B' side, Rocastle was capped 14 times at under-21 level for England during the second half of the 1980s, scoring twice. Whilst playing for the Young Lions, he earned a runners-up medal in the 1988 Toulon Tournament and got to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals of the same year.[36][37]

Aged 21, he was capped at senior level for the first time against Denmark on 14 September 1988. Rocastle never found himself on the losing side as England won seven of the internationals that he appeared in and drew the other seven. He was not selected in the England squads for the World Cup of 1990 or 1992 Euros. His final appearance for England came just after his 25th birthday, on 17 May 1992 against Brazil. Rocastle won 14 full caps for England but did not score.[38][39][40]

Illness and death

In February 2001, Rocastle announced that he was suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer which attacks the immune system, and had been diagnosed the previous October. He underwent a course of chemotherapy and was hopeful of a recovery. He died in the early hours of 31 March 2001, aged 33. Rocastle was survived by his wife and children. Many years later, it was revealed that Rocastle's cancer had been declared terminal from the time of his diagnosis in October 2000.[41]

Six weeks after Rocastle's death his nine-year-old son Ryan was Arsenal's mascot in their FA Cup final match against Liverpool, a match in which they took the lead but ultimately lost 2–1, after late goals by Michael Owen.

Five years and a day after his passing, 1 April 2006 was designated "David Rocastle Day", as part of the themed celebrations of Arsenal's final season at their stadium of Highbury. Upon the day a league game was played which saw a brace from Thierry Henry in an eventual 5–0 win for Arsenal over Aston Villa.[42] Fans paid tribute to Rocastle before the start of the match with a minute's applause.[43]

Arsenal also has a training facility at the club's academy located at Hale End in Walthamstow, London that was named after Rocastle. The David Rocastle indoor centre, of which was opened up in August 2006, thus serves as another tribute to the player's contributions to the club.[5][44] Rocastle is also one of 32 Arsenal legends honoured by having their images illustrated on the side of the new Emirates Stadium. On 30 March 2013, Arsenal played a game which marked the 12-year anniversary of Rocastle's death. The fans sang his name throughout the first ten minutes, and his famous quote of "Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent!" was shown on the screen. Just after this, Arsenal scored the first goal in a 4–1 victory in the match against Reading.[43] Hull City paid tribute to Rocastle by erecting a sign in his honour at the KC Stadium for their league match against Arsenal in May 2015.[45] On 2 April 2016 Arsenal's fans paid another similar tribute to him at the Emirates during Arsenal's match against Watford which marked the 15th anniversary of Rocastle's loss.[43]

Personal life

Rocastle had three children with his wife Janet – son Ryan and daughters Melissa and Monique.[46]

He is the cousin of another professional footballer, Craig Rocastle, and his brother Stephen played for Norwich City and was on the books of Derry City as well.

The David Rocastle Trust

The David Rocastle Trust is a charity based in London, UK founded in memory of Rocastle. The charity, which was chosen by Arsenal as their club charity for the 2005–06 season, supports Rocastle's family as well as community projects and other registered charities.[47]

Honours

England

Arsenal

[3][9] Winner:

Leeds United

[3] Winner:

  • FA Charity Shield: 1992

Runner-up:

Chelsea
  • UEFA Cup Winners Cup: Semifinalist-1994–95[31]

Sabah
  • Piala FA: Runners Up Medal-1998[9]

Individual

Career statistics

[53]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1985–86ArsenalFirst Division261
1986–87362
1987–88406
1988–89386
1989–90332
1990–91182102000212
1991–92394103040474
1992–93Leeds UnitedPremier League181
1993–9471
1993–94Manchester CityPremier League212
1994–95ChelseaPremier League280
1995–9610
1996–97Norwich CityFirst Division110
1997–98Hull CityThird Division111
Malaysia League FAM Cup Malaysia Cup Asia Total
1998Sabah
Total England 32528
Malaysia
Career total
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References
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