Remembering Rocky 25 years after his death
[Getty Images] On this day 25 years ago, Arsenal legend David Rocastle died at the age of 33, having previously been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Rocastle, who was nicknamed Rocky, spent the majority of his career at Arsenal and made 277 appearances after making his debut aged 18. He scored a total of 34 goals for the Gunners and won the League title in 1989 and 1991, as well as the League Cup in 1987.
Rocastle grew up in Brockley with Ian Wright and the pair would later go on to play for the Gunners together. Following his passing on March 31, 2001, Wright referred to Rocastle as "a best mate and team-mate" on the BBC Radio 5 Live show he co-hosted at the time. "He was somebody that played hard and fair," said Wright to Arsenal club media.
"He was a gentleman to everybody. "People think I started supporting Arsenal when I got there but he's the reason why I love Arsenal so much. "On my first league game for Arsenal, we were in the tunnel and David looked at me and said 'look at us, man, Brockley boys bro.
Look where we are'. "I went out and scored a hat-trick and David scored the other one. We beat Southampton 4-0 and it is the best day of my life.
"When he was leaving, I cried for three days. I genuinely thought I was going to be with him for the whole time I was there. "The best time I had at Arsenal was the year there with him.