Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Monday March 31 2008
Time: 2:47AM
UK time is: 20:50:49
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A Time To Remember: David Rocastle
Time passes so quickly, the hustle and bustle of daily life sometimes leaves us with temporary amnesia that means we can only see the here and now, and memories of all things past are stored neatly in the confines of the minds vaults.
But every now and again you sit up and take notice of something that catches your eye, and those memories are freed from their prison and are left alone to bring a whole host of emotions flooding back.
Trawling NewsNow a some ridiculous time in the morning a few article titles caught my eye, and made me ask the question 'Has it really been 7 years since David Rocastle was taken from us?'
I don't want to dwell on the tragic circumstances in which Rocky departed this mortal plane, but rather celebrate the life of a truly brilliant footballer.
David Rocastle was a footballer playing at the wrong time, his skill, vision and technical ability belongs in the premiership of today, he wouldn't have only been able to play in this physical, high tempo and technical league .... he would have thrived in it. He could have also taught the players of today a thing or two about sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. This genius of a man had everything a top flight footballer could possibly wish for, and we as Arsenal fans were fortunate enough to have Rocky in his pomp and witness some of the silkiest football skill you could ever hope to wish for.
Anyway, when the inadequate ramblings of a blithering idiot no longer suffice, a visual montage is the only way to pay a fitting tribute to a man loved by thousands of football fans across the country.
David Rocky Rocastle 2 May 1967 - 31 March 2001
We miss you.
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Your Comments
The first goal on that video is one of my favorite goals of all time!! A proper genus.
Rocky7
Bloody hell! Now that man was a true LEGEND. Some of his skill was unbelievable. To believe he hailed from the Brazilian surburbs of Lewisham! RIP Mr Rocastle, a true gentleman and one heck of a player.
Keplaz
while i havent seen him play much, all the stuff that i've read about him and heard from my fellow gooners, there aren't many Arsenal legends who we can mention in the same breath as our Rocky. R.I.P. Mr. Rocastle, as long as we love and support this great club, you'll always be in our hearts..
luckys_10
just watched the video above, and it was like watching Dennis Bergkamp play especially the chip vs United. wonder how it would have been had Rocky, Dennis and Thierry played in the same team together..
luckys_10
hope i dun offend anyone when i say this - Rocastle is probably the most gifted (and even possibly the only one) English player of all-time, pity only gooners would truly appreciate that.
Temasek
watching the video reminded me of a young gazza. rocky you always played with a smile on your face n skill n grace R.I.P
dspurs64
Well before my time as a gooner, but the little I've seen leaves me in no doubt that he was well ahead of his time. RIP Rocky.
prits
An absolute legend. R.I.P. Rocky. Such a shame.
Moorish
Quality,Quality,Quality.A fantastic talent who was a delight to watch.Tragic end to a young mans life.Lucky;s,he would have revelled playing alongside the above players.I put it to you-how much better would they have been with Rocky in the team?
cockaduddle
Cockaduddle - It's something I've often thought about. I reckon he's only one of a very few who could have fitted into this Wenger side, and he had what we have been missing this season. I feel priveldged I got to watch such a fine player!!!
Rocky7
We'll I was very very young and have never seen Rocky play. But according to what I read on the blogs, he must have been one hell of a player. RIP Mr. Rocastle.
WouldYouBelieveIt?!
Last night I happened to be turning the pages of the 1992-93 Premiership year book, published before his transfer. Yes it would have been amazing to see him play alongside the likes of Henry and Bergkamp. But also on the 1992 teamsheet were Adams, Bould, Campbell, Carter, Davis, Dixon, Groves, Heaney, Hillier, Jensen, Limpar, Linighan, Lydersen, Merson, Miller, Morrow, O'Leary, Parlour, Plates, Seaman, Smith, Winterburn and Wright. In his short life he did play for the club with some fantastic players. I'm sure some of us still remember many of those special moments like it's yesterday. R.I.P. Mr. David Carlyle Rocastle.
Lou the Gunneress
Sadly missed. A very good player. I remember him playing for England v Sweden, where his intelligence and discipline helped to undercome the exhuberance of Gasgoine who had come on and was simply not staying on the wing as he should. Never received the credit his skill, and overall professionalism deserved.
Bran Mak Morn
I never had the pleasure to watch David Rocastle play, but all I have heard and read of him points to the fact that not only was he a fantastic player, but a great person and a model professional, someone you'd like your kids to look up to. The videos of him are splendid and every time I hear the "Oh Rocky, Rocky" chant, it sends shivers down my spine. A sad sad end to a young man's life. RIP Mr. Rocastle.
G4L
I too have never seen him play but those who did, what was he about? What made him so great? I would love to hear about some of his attributes and may be some of the relatively young Gooners can know what he's about.
WouldYouBelieveIt?!
Why did he only ever have 14 caps? Was the England team still racist in his day? 14 caps for a player of his ability is unacceptable.
Keplaz
Mr Rocastle RIP.A very good player who is missed by football fans.Keplaz you sound like a muppett with your racist questions.Could it have been that he just wasn't good enough to get more caps.John Barnes,Viv Anderson,Keith Curle Des Walker Carlton Palmer,Tony Daley...... Do those names ring any bells Keplaz??? I also don't think Rocky ever played in the European cup either ????
java
I still think god asked for lessons from him!
ajwb
I was living in London on and off between 1994-1998 and begged gooner friends to watch any Arsenal video tapes they had. I was trying to learn more about the club and devoured every written word and video I could. Thankfully some of those videos included some of Rocky's best games. I well remember when the news came out about his illness. The day the news came out about his death is one which I'll always remember because I happened to be hosting a London gooner friend that week in my apt. She and I immediately went to a local hangout for expat football fans and gooners streamed in throughout the night to commiserate. We spent hours watching highlights of Rocky's best games. I so wish I could've seen him play live and in person. Over the years I've purchased vids and dvds of old Arsenal games and I've built a decent Rocky collection. RIP to a true artist.
jaelle
What a legend. No one deserves to die so young. But as Queen said, "Only the Good die young". Proud to have seen him in a blue shirt, though not nearly enough.
The_Legend_Of_Zola
He played pretty in almost every game of the '89 league winning season, a huge part of the reason why we brought the league championship home (and still the feckless media don't get the blokes' name right!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GssctcuJeqo
nikolaijns
I'm not saying it was racism, am I? It was an honest question as I didn't even know what footy was at the time, let alone watch internationals. I know there was a point when black players didnot get as many games for England. Just wondered if Rocastle played during that period, that's all. Why does the word racism automatically make you think I'm a muppet? HE looked like a world beater and I was windering why he wasn't good enough for England. Java, I won't call you names or anything, it's not worth it. And point out another post I made about racism Java. You make it seem like I have a record.
Keplaz
Anyway this post was about honouring the memory of Rocky, not this kind of talk. I am sorry if my question offended anyone, it wasn't meant to. Back to the issue at hand, Rocastle was a legend and may he rest in peace.
Keplaz
he kinda looks like vieira in this picture...
anonymous
Apologies Keplaz.Sorry for callin you a muppett man.You have to admit it's still a strange question.Alot of black players played with England aroung that time but there was just far better midfielders playing at that time...Reid,Robson,Gazza...etc.
java
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