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David Rocastle was an outstanding young winger with real pace, a superb first touch and a facility to seek out opponents with pinpoint centres or subtle through balls. Unfortunately, the Arsenal star burst on to the scene at a time when Chris Waddle had pretty much bought all the rights to England's chief attacking threat down the right flank, although an admiring Bobby Robson gave Rocastle numerous moments to shine. After the fiasco of the 1988 European Championships, youth was summoned to tthe England set-up and Rocastle debuted in a 1-0 win over Denmark, although unsurprisingly Waddle was recalled a month later for the start of England's qualification campaign for the 1990 World Cup. David's reputation gradually grew stronger as Arsenal dominated that season's First Division campaign, and Robson gave him starting roles in friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Greece before he was handed a competitive debut in Tirana as England took on Albania in their qualifying group.
Rocastle's crisply volleyed cross on the turn sent the Albanian defence into hysterical panic midway through the first half, and John Barnes consequently stroked home England's opener, and he then won the free kick which resulted in a headed second for Bryan Robson in the second half. Rocastle stuck around for the return game a month later, setting up two goals in England's 5-0 win but when the more taxing Poland came to Wembley in the summer - by which time David had won the League with Arsenal - Robson returned to Waddle, though Rocastle did come on as a sub to set up the third and final goal for Neil Webb.
Robson, by now, seemed to be rotating Waddle and Rocastle depending on the game's nature. David started the friendly against Denmark in June 1989 which ended 1-1; Waddle was recalled for the World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Stockholm the following September which ended goalless, with Rocastle later featuring as a sub. However, more faith was shown in the Arsenal man afterwards when England travelled to Poland needing a draw and Robson pitched Rocastle into the side.
There were hairy moments but David had a fine game as England got the 0-0 draw they neede to go to Italy. Rocastle then hit huge misfortune as, after winning his tenth cap in a 2-1 win over Yugoslavia, he suffered an injury which allowed a route back in for the fit-again Trevor Steven. David only managed one sub appearance in the final warm-up period leading up to the World Cup - in the 1-0 win against Denmark - which made or broke players' places, and he was an unfortunate absentee from Robson's final squad. Graham Taylor recalled Rocastle three times afterwards, without any real impact being made, and David's sale by Arsenal in 1992 suggested that the only way was down.
His career at all levels never recovered, though that was put into perspective by the non-Hodgkins lymphoma which he later contracted and, ultimately, which took his life at the tragically early age of 33. (Matthew Rudd)
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