David Rocastle
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Carlyle Rocastle | ||
| Date of birth | 2 May 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Lewisham, London, England | ||
| Date of death | 31 March 2001 (aged 33) | ||
| Place of death | Slough, Berkshire, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982–1985 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1992 | 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. |
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David Carlyle Rocastle (2 May 1967 – 31 March 2001) was an English professional footballer, who played in the position of a midfielder wherein the role as a playmaker as well as at times 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 football team, in all earning 14 international caps for the Three Lions.
Arsène Wenger has described him as a " 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 Gooners, with his name being emblazoned upon that of the club's Emirates Stadium.
Rocastle was born in Lewisham on 2 May 1967 to Caribbean immigrant parents who came to England during the 1950s. His father died in 1972, when Rocastle was five years old. His mother Linda subsequently remarried. Rocastle attended the Turnham Primary School and the Roger Manwood secondary school in his teenage years.
Rocastle joined Arsenal in May 1982 and turned professional in December 1984. 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."
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