Wilf Rostron
Encyclopedia
John Wilfred Rostron, often known as Wilf Rostron (born 29 September 1956 in Sunderland), is an English
former footballer who spent ten years at Watford
as well playing for Arsenal
, Sunderland
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Sheffield United
and Brentford
. He started his career as a left-winger but spent most of his career as a left-back.
Rostron started his career at Arsenal
, signing professional terms in October 1973 after a season as an amateur playing in Arsenal's youth team. He made his first-team debut against Newcastle United
on March 18, 1975 and played a total of six league matches that season. However, he could not fully break into the Arsenal first team, making only 19 appearances for the club in three seasons, scoring two goals. He moved to home town club Sunderland
in July 1977 for £40,000.
After two seasons at Sunderland, Rostron signed for Watford
in October 1979 for £150,000. Playing as a left-winger he had sporadic success. During the 1980-81
Watford manager Graham Taylor
played Rostron as a left-back to combat Chelsea winger Clive Walker
. Rostron played well and went on to make that position his own. He was part of the Watford side that achieved promotion to Division One in the 1981-82
season and won Player of the Season as Watford reached their highest ever finish of 2nd in 1982-83
season.
In the 1983-84
season Watford reached the final of the FA Cup
. Rostron, by this time Watford's captain, was sent off in a league fixture against Luton Town
preceding the final and incurred a suspension. He was consigned to the sidelines as Watford lost 2-0 to Everton
. Nonetheless, Rostron won the Player of the Season award again that year.
Having not played a single game in Watford's first campaign back in the Second Division
he joined Sheffield Wednesday
on a free transfer in January 1989. His spell at Hillsborough
lasted only 8 months, and he was loaned to the Owls rivals Sheffield United
in September 1989, a move which was made permanent in November of that year. He moved to Brentford
in January 1991, where he retired and became their assistant manager.
He became the assistant manager of Gateshead
in October 1993, became their caretaker manager in November 1993, before becoming the manager of Sunderland Ryhope Colliery Welfare between December 1993 and 1994.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer who spent ten years at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as well playing for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. He started his career as a left-winger but spent most of his career as a left-back.
Rostron started his career at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, signing professional terms in October 1973 after a season as an amateur playing in Arsenal's youth team. He made his first-team debut against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on March 18, 1975 and played a total of six league matches that season. However, he could not fully break into the Arsenal first team, making only 19 appearances for the club in three seasons, scoring two goals. He moved to home town club Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in July 1977 for £40,000.
After two seasons at Sunderland, Rostron signed for Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in October 1979 for £150,000. Playing as a left-winger he had sporadic success. During the 1980-81
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
Watford manager Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
played Rostron as a left-back to combat Chelsea winger Clive Walker
Clive Walker
Clive Walker is a retired English footballer. His playing career spanned some 1,000 league and cup games for Chelsea, Sunderland, Fulham and Brighton before enjoying a renaissance in the Conference with Woking and Cheltenham Town.-Chelsea:Walker was an old-fashioned winger with pace who used to...
. Rostron played well and went on to make that position his own. He was part of the Watford side that achieved promotion to Division One in the 1981-82
1981-82 in English football
The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England...
season and won Player of the Season as Watford reached their highest ever finish of 2nd in 1982-83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
season.
In the 1983-84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
season Watford reached the final of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. Rostron, by this time Watford's captain, was sent off in a league fixture against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
preceding the final and incurred a suspension. He was consigned to the sidelines as Watford lost 2-0 to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Nonetheless, Rostron won the Player of the Season award again that year.
Having not played a single game in Watford's first campaign back in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
he joined Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on a free transfer in January 1989. His spell at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
lasted only 8 months, and he was loaned to the Owls rivals Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in September 1989, a move which was made permanent in November of that year. He moved to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in January 1991, where he retired and became their assistant manager.
He became the assistant manager of Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
in October 1993, became their caretaker manager in November 1993, before becoming the manager of Sunderland Ryhope Colliery Welfare between December 1993 and 1994.