Arsenal Legends: Eight Years on a Tribute to the Late David "Rocky" Rocastle

Eight years ago to the day, English football lost a true gentleman of the game way before his time.

David Carlyle Rocastle was just 33-years-old when he lost his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer that attacks the immune system.

Rocky started his career with Arsenal in 1983 as part of the club's youth set-up. Within two years, he moved through the ranks to become part of the first team.

Playing in the Gunners' midfield, Rocastle had the ability to go past players often with ease.

During his nine years at the club, Rocky played 218 times for the North London side scoring 24 goals. It has often been said that "Rocky wasn't a scorer of goals, he was a scorer of amazing goals" with many pointing to goals he scored against Manchester United and Spurs.

At Arsenal, Rocastle won two league titles.

He was an almost ever present member of the class of 1989 that won the title on the last day of the season when they beat Liverpool to the trophy at Anfield.

Arsenal repeated their success in 1990-1991 when George Graham's side won the league having lost just one game all season. Rocastle still made an impact despite missing large parts of the season with a knee injury.

The following season, Rocastle was sold to Leeds United for £2million despite he seemingly wanting to stay at Arsenal, a sentiment shared by the majority of Arsenal fans.

David Rocastle would also go on to play for Manchester City, Chelsea, Norwich City and Hull. However, his heart always remained at Arsenal.

On the 1 April 2006, five years and one day after Rocky's untimely passing, Arsenal marked his contribution to the club by designating the day "David Rocastle Day" as part of the club's themed matches in their last season at Highbury.

The fans applauded and chanted his name before the game while the players did their bit securing a 5-0 victory over Aston Villa.

It wasn't only Rocky's mesmerising skills on the pitch that would be and are missed, but his likable personality.

He was a hero to Arsenal fans, but he was also one of them in a way. He was a gentleman who was the empitomy of modesty and loyalty.

Following his death, former team mate and friend Paul Davis said: "I've known Dave since he was 12 or 13. I saw him come up into the Arsenal team; we grew up in the same area, so I knew Dave as a youngster.

"He was a bubbly guy. There were no airs and graces about him; he would speak to everyone the same.

"He was a fantastic guy to have known, and I just feel so sorry for his wife and kids."

He added: "He was an adventurous player, and the fans absolutely loved him.

"It's only over the last few months when people have known he's been ill that people would constantly stop me in the street to ask me how he was, and whether they would ever see him again.

"It's only then that I realised what he meant to people. There's not many people who have the privilege of having that respect from the fans at Arsenal."

In life and death David "Rocky" Rocastle will forever be one of us, a gooner.

Oh Rocky Rocky, Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocky Rocastle

David Rocastle 2nd May 1967 - 31st March 2001. Rest In Peace Rocky.