Many of his team-mates were Pall bearers at the funeral. Are you and the family still in touch with Davis, Adams, Thomas, Smudger, Wright etc?
The ones who we are in most contact with are Smudge and Mickey (Michael Thomas). Smudge is my little sister’s godfather and we keep in contact with him a lot. I’m very good friends with his daughters so we see each other as often as we can. Mick comes round quite a bit as well and we are also very close to his family. Wrighty is Wrighty – you won’t hear from him in ages and then suddenly he just turns up at the door, or will send you a random message. I also bumped into Paul Davis and his son the other day at an Arsenal game funnily enough.
Your dad’s great quote, ‘Remember who you are and who you represent’ is so powerful. Do you think the modern day Arsenal player understands what it means to represent the Arsenal?
That quote always makes me laugh a little bit. It’s quite intellectual for a footballer isn’t it? I think maybe the quote is not as powerful as it used to be amongst players because they probably don’t know a lot about the history of the club and its tradition. However, I think quite a few of the present team are either Arsenal fans or have been at Arsenal for a while so maybe they understand it a bit more.
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Were you blessed with your father’s talent to any degree and if so do you still play at all and in what position?
Unfortunately not really. I played for my local and school team and really enjoyed it but nothing more serious than that. I played left wing but am right footed so liked to cut in. A bit like Gervinho, but with better finishing lol!!
I was at the Spurs semi-final at Old Trafford six weeks after your dad’s tragic passing. The continuous chanting of Rocky moved me to tears, so it must have been amazing and so moving for you at only 9 to be the mascot at Cardiff for the final?
To be honest, that was the day I became a proper Arsenal fan. Before then I always followed them a bit because Dad did but was not that into it. Then being the mascot was an amazing experience, I still remember it very clear, I was sad that we lost but the day was incredible, one I’ll never forget no doubt.
I gather from some of your tweets that you are studying at present. What are you studying and what do you hope the future holds?
I study Journalism, but I’m not a bad person lol!! I’m not really sure if Journalism is for me or if I’ll go into it after Uni, but I wanted to get a degree in something and this interested me at the time. I would quite like to go into TV or entertainment or something like that and I guess journalism could lead me there. There’s also the option of being a football agent as I do have the contacts for it and has always interested me but we’ll see.
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Very touching and great interview. and was really touched when Ryan came out to represent his father at the 125 b/day celebrations. was really proud to be a gooner that day. Rocky is a true Arsenal legend and it pleases me to know that the arsenal family will NEVER forget him. sad he left us so young but i salute you Rocky and i salute you Ryan. you will be in my prayers always.
One of the greats, saw him play many times, so graceful on the ball, looked like he was born with it. I liked the goal he scored at Anfield in the League Cup. No back lift and it screamed into the net in front of us. Played so well, should have won, it was 1-1 and we lost the replay but won the league. Another great night I had at Anfield. This is Rocky.
I will never forget ROCKY ROCASTLE I will always remember the roar from the crowd when the ball fell at his feet as he played through the oppositions midfield and defence. I have a picture of Rocky hanging in my hallway of my house for all to see and love telling visitors stories of Rocky. I had tears the day I heard Rocky had left us and still have a tear in my eye each time I look at his picture. We will never forget you Rocky you will forever be in our hearts.
I watched David Rocastle on TV back then in the 1980s in Ghana on a weekly program called big league soccer. He, Lee Dixon and Paul Davis are the reason why I became an Arsenal fan. I was shocked when I read about his death. May his soul rest in peace. He was always a cheerful guy. Good luck to the family he left behind.