The spirit of Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock’s late dad has been visiting him beyond the grave to scold him when he’s been a naughty boy.
Edward Ruddock – who Neil credited with sacrificing everything to help him become a professional footballer – died after a cancer battle in 2013 with Neil, friends and family by his hospice bedside.
Neil says: “He comes in my dreams every other day – I think that’s a sign. I’m a big believer in that sort of thing.
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(Image: PA)
“Every other day he comes in my dream and tells me off! Still the same, like when he was alive; if I’m doing something wrong, he’d tell me off.”
After being called up for National Service, Edward had to give up his own ambitions of playing football professionally.
As a teen he played for Fulham as a central defender, the same position as former England star Neil.
He says: “The greatest thing I had ever done in my life was that I played football and made my dad proud of me.
“He used to have to borrow five or 10 pounds a week to take me to training.
“To play for England and in cup finals with my dad watching me, that was the greatest thing you can do to make your dad proud when it comes to football.
(Image: neilrazorruddock25/instagram)
“Always give your hardest in anything you do in life, that’s all you can do, he told me.”
Popular on and off the field, when he was with Liverpool Neil endured a stalker experience.
He recalls: “She used to follow me. If I went to a restaurant she used to wait outside; she’d be sat outside my house, would come to the training ground every day.
“I told her, ‘Don’t come every day, come every other day’, then she started crying and then they had to get the police involved because she’d be outside my kids’ school.
“She had to go to hospital to sort herself out – and the doctor rang me up to talk about her recovery. That was a strange – quite scary – experience, having a stalker back then.”
(Image: ITV)
Having played for big clubs including West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, Neil is now also better known as a reality TV favourite with appearances on I’m A Celebrity and Celebrity MasterChef to his credit.
He says: “My problem at the end of my football career when I retired was that I didn’t have a plan.
“When you’re a professional footballer you’re told what to do, what to wear, next day’s schedule, don’t do this, don’t drink that, so when you retire there’s no discipline and you turn into a 19-year-old again.
“My problem was I was in the pub as that’s where I would get camaraderie, so I recommend always having a plan to keep busy, even if it’s a little hobby.”
In his new book Toxic, the 56-year-old dissects his battles with food addiction, alcohol and self-esteem.
Neil says: “My wife’s got a chapter in the book on how she handled me – she changed my life. The message is if I can change my life around and give up the crazy things I was doing, anyone can.
“See any signs and help to change the loved ones, if they’re indulging in drinking and eating.”
Neil, who has a new book out about his life, is championing pal Paul Merson on Strictly despite a massive row between the pair in 2020 on telly show Harry’s Heroes leading to him having a pacemaker fitted.
He says: “It’s not my favourite TV show but my mum always rings me and says, “Merson is coming on’, so I only watch it when my pal Paul is on.
“It makes me smile to watch him because he’s a good friend of mine.
“I’ve got a bad knee so I would struggle doing it myself, but if my knee was OK then I’d love to have a chance of going on Strictly because I don’t mind making myself look stupid and having a laugh.”
Toxic by Neil Ruddock is out now in bookstores and online