Although Wilf was born in Sunderland, his home town club were not his first employers in professional football. It was in fact as an apprentice with Arsenal that Rostron began his career, signing pro in October 1973.

He moved 'home' to Roker Park in the same month that Graham Taylor arrived at Vicarage Road back in 1977 and spent just over two seasons with Sunderland before a £150,000 transfer brought him to Watford.

Originally purchased as a winger, the ex-England schoolboy international made his Hornets debut in a 2-0 home win over Newcastle United in October 1979.

Rostron's career was transformed in February 1982 when as an experiment Graham Taylor moved the 5ft 7in player to left back at home to Chelsea.

After that Wilf didn't look back, winning Player Of The Season a couple of times. Unfortunately as club captain he missed the 1984 Cup Final when a sending-off at Luton deprived him of leading the team out at the Wembley showpiece.

One of over 300 League outings for Watford was at Filbert Street, Leicester in September 1985 where Wilf scored both goals in a 2-2 draw. Watford were one up at the break when Rostron scored following a one-two with Colin West. The Foxes turned the game around with two goals in 14 second half minutes from Paul Ramsey and Mark Bright, but eight minutes later Wilf guaranteed a point for the Hornets scoring when Nigel Callaghan's flag kick was headed into his path by a City defender.

On leaving Vicarage Road in 1988-89 Rostron played for both Sheffield clubs and Brentford where he was Assistant Manager last season. Earlier this year Wilf was back in the North-East coaching GMVC club Gateshead.

- Taken from Watford v Leicester City programme (2/4/94)