Nick Szczepanik
25 Jan 2008 The Times
25 Jan 2008 The Times
Liverpool will have compiled thorough scouting reports on Havant & Waterlooville in advance of tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield. But even their most detailed dossiers may not have prepared them to face Jairzinho.
The striker better known as Rocky Baptiste was named by his father after the Brazil forward who scored in every round of the 1970 World Cup. The young Baptiste’s interest in boxing led to the nickname Rocky, which was also less of a mouthful, but he has still done his best to live up to his original moniker.
He has scored at Wembley Stadium and against Arsenal at Highbury. His scoring rate since joining Havant in August 2005 is about two goals every three matches. And his goals at home and away against Swansea City in the third round helped to set up tomorrow’s match.
That he grew up within sight of Wembley’s twin towers also made it inevitable that he would make his mark in cup football. His Wembley goal – “a penalty, for Willesden Con-stantine in a local Brent competition,” he said – was not his most memorable. That came five years ago today, in the 71st minute of Farnborough Town’s 5-1 defeat by Arsenal, also in the FA Cup fourth round.
“I spun Pascal Cygan and I was one-on-one with the ’keeper [Stuart Taylor],” he said. “I tried to tuck it between his legs but he blocked it, so I followed through and got a toe to it to lift it over him.
“It was an amazing feeling, playing against all those stars. The adrenalin kicked in, but it was so hard against them. It made it 3-1 when I scored, but they just stepped up a gear – and they brought on Dennis Bergkamp. It was unbelievable how they could change the game.”
Baptiste, 35, began his career as a Chelsea junior, but few of the squad of which he was a member advanced to the club’s first team. “Frank Sinclair and not a lot of others,” he said.
His only chance at a League career came with Luton Town, when he was signed by Ricky Hill. “I think I would have done well in the League if I had had the chance,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate that Ricky Hill got sacked when I signed there – unlucky.”
Some might have been bitter, but Baptiste, a Liverpool fan, is famously laid-back – a quality that he will need in his new day job as a London cabbie. “I had to drop back to the Conference, but it has been good and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “And I’ve been lucky to have not one but two days like this.
“Playing at Highbury was a great day, but it showed that it is possible to score against these teams. We’re not going to go there [Anfield] and just let Liverpool walk all over us.”
The striker better known as Rocky Baptiste was named by his father after the Brazil forward who scored in every round of the 1970 World Cup. The young Baptiste’s interest in boxing led to the nickname Rocky, which was also less of a mouthful, but he has still done his best to live up to his original moniker.
He has scored at Wembley Stadium and against Arsenal at Highbury. His scoring rate since joining Havant in August 2005 is about two goals every three matches. And his goals at home and away against Swansea City in the third round helped to set up tomorrow’s match.
That he grew up within sight of Wembley’s twin towers also made it inevitable that he would make his mark in cup football. His Wembley goal – “a penalty, for Willesden Con-stantine in a local Brent competition,” he said – was not his most memorable. That came five years ago today, in the 71st minute of Farnborough Town’s 5-1 defeat by Arsenal, also in the FA Cup fourth round.
“I spun Pascal Cygan and I was one-on-one with the ’keeper [Stuart Taylor],” he said. “I tried to tuck it between his legs but he blocked it, so I followed through and got a toe to it to lift it over him.
“It was an amazing feeling, playing against all those stars. The adrenalin kicked in, but it was so hard against them. It made it 3-1 when I scored, but they just stepped up a gear – and they brought on Dennis Bergkamp. It was unbelievable how they could change the game.”
Baptiste, 35, began his career as a Chelsea junior, but few of the squad of which he was a member advanced to the club’s first team. “Frank Sinclair and not a lot of others,” he said.
His only chance at a League career came with Luton Town, when he was signed by Ricky Hill. “I think I would have done well in the League if I had had the chance,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate that Ricky Hill got sacked when I signed there – unlucky.”
Some might have been bitter, but Baptiste, a Liverpool fan, is famously laid-back – a quality that he will need in his new day job as a London cabbie. “I had to drop back to the Conference, but it has been good and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “And I’ve been lucky to have not one but two days like this.
“Playing at Highbury was a great day, but it showed that it is possible to score against these teams. We’re not going to go there [Anfield] and just let Liverpool walk all over us.”
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