Arsenal Scout Pat Rice Details The First Time He Saw David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle

By The Editor
on 3rd March 2017

Pat Rice details meeting David Rocastle for the first time…

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Arsenal stalwart Pat Rice reveals a lovely anecdote for the forthcoming documentary detailing Ian Wright and Rocky Rocastle’s rise to prominence from humble beginnings.

Titled ‘Rocky & Wright: From Brockley To The Big Time’, the two gifted footballers took very differing paths to the top of the English game.

Rocky, a technically gifted wide player with ability ahead of his time, came through the ranks at Arsenal in traditional fashion.

While Ian Wright, still working in a factory as Rocastle made his Gunners debut, was plucked from non-league football by Crystal Palace before making a record-breaking move to Arsenal.

However, it’s Rocastle whom Rice noticed from a very young age after he told the youth set-up that they were “costing the club money” if they weren’t first-team players.

Our former assistant manager then challenged the whole development squad to put themselves forward as the ones who’ll make that tough line into the senior squad.

And, as usual, it was Rocastle who took on the mantle and predicted his destiny.

Check out the snippet of the documentary in the video above.