Rocky the King
March 31st will herald another anniversary of the untimely death of ‘Rocky Rocastle’. On April 1st there will be a tribute programme on BT sports about the friendship between Ian "Wright Wright Wright" and David “Rocky” Rocastle, who sadly passed away in 2001. On April 2nd we face Manchester City in a cliffhanger. It was 2008 in an earlier reincarnation that I recall urging the faithful to "make noise for Rocky" for the seventh anniversary. The Black Scarf Movement then began seven minutes into the game a noise tribute on the tenth anniversary. Over the last two seasons, memories of what being a Gooner really means has been questioned by many. Some writers of blogs on this very website have stated that being a true Gooner means that you support the club whatever, irrespective of whether it is right or wrong. Implying that being a member of the WOB disqualifies you from being a true fan. When George Graham sold Rocky to Leeds United, it must have broken his heart, because Rocky was a Gooner through and through. His pride of playing for his beloved Arsenal was demonstrated in all that he did and said. His famous quote was "Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent"
Our Arsenal legend, was tragically struck down by Lymphoma, a blood cancer of the glands at the age of 33. David Carlyle Rocastle was Arsenal, to coin the cliche, if you cut him, he would bleed Red and White. He disliked Tottenham, and nothing delighted him more than to score goals against them. His goal that sent Arsenal through to the 1987 Littlewoods Cup (better known as the League Cup) final in the closing seconds was a classic. Two matches had failed to separate the North London rivals. The scum had taken a one-nil lead in the first leg at Highbury when Clive Allen had scored as usual. The second leg saw Allen again torment the Gunners and have a two-nil aggregate advantage. It was said that the Arsenal dressing room was fired up by the Scum PA announcer, who had informed the home fans at White Hart Lane how to obtain tickets for the Wembley final. Viv Anderson and Niall Quinn silenced them to give the Gunners a 2-1 victory and earn us a replay.
The final and third match was at White Hart Lane. Clive Allen had again put the scum in front and all seemed at last to be going their way against this young Arsenal team, with talisman Charlie Nicholas leaving the field through injury. Sub Ian Allinson gave the Gunners hope when he ran in and latched onto a long ball from Paul Davis and released a shot which beat Ray Clemence at his near post. With only seconds remaining after almost 300 minutes of football. David O’Leary launched a long ball forward which was knocked down by Quinn into the path of sub Allinson on the left. His shot ricocheted off a scum defender into the path of Rocky near the penalty spot.
He controlled the ball with a sublime first touch of his right foot, to take the ball away towards his left to create an angle, and then with a blinding turn of pace took two strides and struck the ball sweet and low as the Tottenham defender slid in to block. The ball disappeared under Clemence, into the net. Cue outrageous Gooner celebrations and the scum support rose en masse and emptied the stadium in what seemed like seconds… Arsenal went on to win the cup by beating Liverpool at Wembley. Go and watch these marvellous moments on YouTube to understand how much Gooners were elated by this legend. George Graham can be seen hugging Rocky at the end of the clip.
What a contrast between the managers Arsène Wenger and Graham. The George Graham era gave us the league title against the mighty Liverpool in 1989. Rocky could never have sat back in a game like some of the players today, and George Graham was adamant that defence was the key. In those days, one-nil to the Arsenal meant game over for the opposition. During a recent twitter exchange with IMF, a longstanding friend from Highbury days, he reminded me of the time that I gave an "I love AW" tee shirt to the wife of Perry Groves at the Rocket bar in Islington. Later I appeared on Sky Sports News in 2008 presenting a petition in support of Arsène Wenger following an uncomfortable Q&A event in which he faced critical questions from shareholders. Mea Culpa! I confess that I was once an AKB! My nom de plume then was FTK or Fabregas the King. It occurs to me now that AKBs today have very short memories. The George Graham football wasn't attractive like Wengerball, but it was more effective.
The passion that Rocky had for his club was mirrored on the terraces at Highbury. He was a fan and he hated the Scum with a passion. In those days this was not the Highbury Library as many would call it later. Ask those fans in the Clock End and the North Bank terraces who would sing their own names back and forth! Being proud to be a Gooner meant something then. The Red and White army had soldiers like Rocky who would sweat blood for the badge. Even after he left Highbury, Rocastle never dissed the club that he loved so much. (Contrast Adebayor!) On the 2nd of April we face Manchester City in a match that could define the future of the club and Arsène Wenger. Over the decades that I have followed Arsenal, holding two season tickets and being a life member of the Arsenal Supporters Trust, I think that I have earned the right to state that I am a loyal Gooner like many others. My volte face against Wenger relates mainly to the tarnishing of club memories recalling the efforts and sacrifice of true Gunners legends who were themselves fans of Arsenal Football Club. If only Rocky could be on the teamsheet for this match. I would have no fear. RIP David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle 2nd May 1967 - 31st March 2001.
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