David Rocastle remembered: 10 years on

The midfielder – as loved for his warmth and charm off the pitch as for his skilful contribution to two title-winning sides on it - passed away a decade ago

Gone, but certainly not forgotten. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of David Rocastle, the former Arsenal midfielder who passed away at the age of 33, little more than a month after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. For any player to lose their life at such a young age will always be shocking but in Rocastle's case it seemed even more so. How, after all, could death come so early to a man who in most rooms and on most football pitches had always seemed to be the one most full of life?

A graduate of Arsenal's academy system and two-time league winner at Highbury, "Rocky" was always a crowd favourite, both for his creative flair on the pitch and warm, jovial personality off it. He did himself no harm by scoring a late winner in the League Cup semi-final win over Tottenham in 1987 either. Even now his name is regularly sung along with those of the present-day squad by supporters at Arsenal games.

The day of his passing, 31 March 2001, happened to coincide with another north London derby. There were fears that the planned minute's silence would not be observed, given the rivalry between the two sides, and even David Pleat, then caretaker manager of Tottenham had advised the referee, Paul Durkin, to blow his whistle to bring it to an end as soon as any there was any interruption from the crowd. In the event, however, the silence was broken only by the sounds of some in the crowd crying.

As one who was in attendance that day I can only say that it was certainly one of the most emotional such silences I have ever experienced. I was not there in 1991, when he chipped Peter Schmeichel from 25 yards out for a sensational goal at Old Trafford, but that will remain my abiding memory of his career – encompassing as it did so many of his footballing qualities: the strength to hold off one challenge, the footwork to evade another and the audacity to attempt the chip at all. And then there is that grin on his face afterwards, symbolic of the joy with which he played and that which he brought to the fans who watched him.

Arsenal have posted a fine tribute to the man on their official website today, and there are plenty more doing the rounds, but if you have any particular memories of Rocastle that you would like to share, we would love you to do so below.

Source: Paolo Bandini, The Guardian on 31 Mar 11