Rocky, one of the best players to ever wear the shirt. I saw him play right through his career at Arsenal. He was a midfield maestro and could score from practically anywhere in the last third of the pitch. Also he was tough and could hold his own against the players who couldn't cope with his skill and tried to put one on him instead. My favourite Rocky goal, the winner against Spurs to put us in the Littlewoods cup final in 87 . Not because it was his best goal, but because it was so important and because I was there as a fourteen year old Arsenal nutter. Still one of the best atmospheres I've ever witnessed. God bless Rocky [video=youtube;geJbTwOQoQU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geJbTwOQoQU[/video]
Yeah, RIP Rocky, take way too soon. I always remember him scoring a great goal in a lge cup game at Anfield, we drew 1-1 and got dicked in the replay but it was probably the last time I went to Anfield so remember it vividly. His son is a big Gooner and genuinely touched by the affection fans still have with his Dad...
Was anyone else at the Millwall game (the old Den) when he swallowed his tongue and was technically dead for 30 seconds ? Surreal to think that he would be dead less than 15 years later...
I wasn't there but I remember it well. Gary Lewin saved his live that day. The old Den was a ****hole and a really nasty place to go. I grew up in Lewisham, which was also where Rocastle was born. Technically my local clubs were Millwall, Palace and Charlton. Always great to watch Arsenal away at those grounds as it was a short train or bus ride home but The Den was a horrible place to visit.
We probably sold him at the right time looking back, but I don't mind admitting that I was in tears when he left for Leeds.
The old Den was a ****hole but then so were most grounds in the late 80s. Gary Lewin ran 50 yards without the refs permission while the ball was still in play to save Rocky that day, I think I remember the ref about to get ****ty with Gary until he saw the colour of Rockys face and realised he'd saved his life...
Nigel Winterburn was guest of honour at our supporters club annual dinner a couple of years ago.He did a Q & A session with us and I asked why did George Graham let Rocky leave and replace him with some of the duds that Graham did.Winterburn said that GG knew Rocky's knees were ****ed
I was there that night with my Old Man. We had tickets in the Liverpool main stand, When Rocky scored that night, the goal was so special we forgot where we were and celebrated whooping and hollering et al. The Liverpool fans around us at first just stared slightly hostilely at us before breaking into a warm round of applause - class. Great night, great goal, great Arsenal player, no matter how short lived. RIP Rocky.
I was just a bit too young to properly appreciate him at the time. Great player and I'm always proud to be an Arsenal fan the way he's remembered.
It's not possible to swallow your tongue. As far as I'm aware it's just a myth that it's possible to swallow your tongue. Unless you bite it off first...
Talksport had a wonderful piece about Rocastle on Drive time last night, with ex-colleagues and pro's talking about the man, it was very moving. Such a terrible loss at such a young age.
Great player! RIP. http://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-03-31/david-rocastle-tribute-late-great-arsenal-player
The worst grounds I went to in the 80s were The Den, just a ****ing horrid place in a nasty area. Stamford Bridge when it had the running track. Kenilworth Rd with that plastic pitch. White Hart Lane, always been a ****hole and the old Baseball ground, in the middle of nowhere and always a long train ride home. The best grounds were Highbury, not being biased but it was a gem of a ground. Boleyn ground, always a great atmosphere. Plough lane, again nice and compact and in a nice part of London. Anfield, it always seemed to be years ahead in terms of style and one of the best atmosphere's ever, the Kop was legendary. Maine Rd, although it was in a horrid area of Manchester and the City ground on the banks of the Trent in Nottingham, nice ground and Forest was always a big game. Stadiums have changed a lot these days and they are far safer and more friendly than they ever used to be, but I have to admit that a part of English football died the day they pulled down all the old terraces and put in the seats.
The list goes on, Ayresome Park, Stoke's old ground (can't remember the name now), The Dell, Filbert St and of course we had some horror cup away games in that era, Hereford, York and Wrexham to name a few where we managed to lose at all ! I especially remember York who covered a frozen pitch with hay.....
The Victoria ground was Stoke's old stadium. I never went there, Stoke were always a Division two and three team when I was travelling the length and breadth of the country following Arsenal. Never got to Middlesbrough either but I did go to St James' Park which is a beast of a ground, but it's a long way from Lewisham ! Portman Rd was always a good atmosphere too, but like Carrow Rd, those places are in the middle of ****ing nowhere. Do you remember the old football specials ? I remember one bloke standing on the old pull down window outside of the train and hanging onto the side for around 6 miles heading up to Manchester once. Some proper mental cases used to travel on those trains.
Never been to Molineux. I remember a couple of fairly grim trips up to Highfield Rd. Totally souless stadium that used to be. But I did see Merson score a ****ing blinding goal there in 89
