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David Rocky Rocastle
1967 - 2001
Wright's tears for 'best mate' Rocastle
Ian Wright and Mark Bright have led the tributes as football mourned the loss of David Rocastle. The former Arsenal and England midfielder died at the age of 33 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
A grief-stricken Wright, speaking on the pair's BBC Radio 5 Live show, referred to Rocastle as "a best mate and team-mate" before breaking down. Bright, taking over from Wright, said falteringly: "I think I speak for everyone in football by saying he'll be sorely missed.
"Our heart goes out to his wife and family. It's a massive blow for Ian and myself."
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said: "The news is a complete shock, it only seems two minutes since he was playing for Arsenal. "It's too tragic for words to die at such a young age. It's unbelievable and you just don't expect that sort of thing to happen to someone of his age. "The very deepest sympathies of the PFA go out to his wife and children."
Lee Chapman, a team-mate of Rocastle's at Leeds, described him as "a wonderful talent" and a "wonderful person". Chapman told Sky Sports.com TV: "I'm absolutely stunned to hear the news. It's a terrible tragedy. I feel for his wife and three children. "Me and my wife Leslie knew his wife and kids well when he was at Leeds, and they were a lovely couple.
"He was a strong character on the pitch and in the dressing room. Away from the club he was a wonderful person to be around. "It's a tragic waste of life and it just makes you realise that none of us knows what is going to happen. "David was a wonderful talent.
He came to Leeds and showed glimpses of his best form, but I'm sure he'll be best remembered for his days at Arsenal.
Flags were already flying at half-mast at Arsenal this morning, and Chapman added: "I'm sure there will be total respect today for the minute's silence at Highbury. "He had a wonderful career, but I thought he had the potential to be one of the greats who might have played 70 or 80 times for England."