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.

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 team, in all earning 14 international caps for the Three Lions.

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.

Rocastle was born in Lewisham on 2 May 1967 to Caribbean immigrants Leslie and Linda Rocastle, who moved to London during the 1950s.

His father died aged 29 in 1972 from pneumonia 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.

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.

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."

He made his debut against Newcastle United 28 September 1985 and made 16 league appearances in the 1985–86 season, scoring once, against Aston Villa 8 March 1986, as Arsenal finished seventh in the league.

Rocastles first goal came three weeks earlier in the FA-cup game against Luton Town 15 February which ended in a 2–2 draw.

He remained a regular player in the first team following the departure of Don Howe and the appointment of George Graham as manager in May 1986.

Rocastle, still only 19, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rocastle's first league championship with Arsenal came in 1988–89, when he played in every game that season.

Rocastle’s memorable solo strike against Middlesbrough 19 November 1988 and a lob from 30 yards against Aston Villa 31 December 1988 stood out during the title winning season.

The 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.

Once again Rocastle won the Barclays Young Eagle award, with the honour bestowed upon him at the end of the 1989 season.

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.

Rocastle was struggling with a knee injury and had a decline in form, so he had an exploratory surgery on his knee to come back before the end of the season.

In 1990–91, Rocastle was limited to just 16 league appearances but he still played more than enough games to win another league title medal with Arsenal, who lost only one game that season.

He started the games in the first two months of that winning season.

Rocastle played against Manchester United 20 October 1990 at Old Trafford, and was involved and fined after the brawl.

When he returned after two months absence at Boxing Day against Derby County, he broke his toe in the first minute of the game, and a new operation of his knee was also required.

The following season, he played 39 league games for the Gunners, and a renaissance for Rocastle playing in a modified role in central midfield.

The new signing Ian Wright and Rocastle were childhood friends who went on to represent the Gunners together in the 1991–92 campaign.

His last appearance in an Arsenal shirt was against Southampton 2 May 1992 in a 5–1 win.

He scored four league goals in his last season.