From exploding golf balls to Wembley!
Ruddy is ready to step out of shadows in today’s semi-final
FOR the first time in more than a decade John Ruddy is having to make do with a place in the shadows. As Rui Patricio assumes the No1 role each week, Ruddy waits on the bench.
The city motto of Wolverhampton is ‘Out of Darkness Cometh Light’ though and for Ruddy it is appropriate. He could yet enjoy at least one day in the sun this season.
The 32-year-old has performed well as Wolves’ FA Cup goalkeeper and he is set to play at Wembley in today’s semi-final against Watford. His campaign has been a curious one of mixed emotions — fit but not featuring. It might just finish, however, with him securing one of the moments of his career.
‘The FA Cup has kept me going in many ways,’ says Ruddy. ‘It’s such a prestigious tournament. I know there’s been a lot of talk about how seriously teams take it but we’ve shown it is a wonderful trophy to be a part of, steeped in history.’
Victories over Liverpool and Manchester United are testament to that. He adds: ‘My earliest memory of watching a full final is probably Everton and Paul Rideout in ’95. Then Eric Cantona the year after. It was always a hot, sunny day, you stopped what you were doing because it was FA Cup Saturday.’
Ruddy’s story encapsulates the transformation taking place at Wolves. He proved himself in the top flight with Norwich, earning one England cap in 2012, and was in the Championship team of last season. He won at Wembley in the 2015 Championship play-off final with Norwich. His quality is not in doubt. But rather than sulk at losing his place to Patricio, Ruddy has been convinced by Nuno Espirito Santo to channel his thoughts positively.
‘Me and the manager had a discussion a couple of weeks before the season,’ says Ruddy. ‘He made it clear he wanted me to stay. He felt I was a big part of the changing room. I welcome competition. It makes me work harder, but on the flip side I’d like to think Rui has had to raise his performances.’
Ruddy likes the mood at Molineux. ‘You don’t get many opportunities to be part of such a solid group, and such a progressive club, very often in your career,’ he says.
‘We are on course for a top-10 finish and could win a cup. I’m not sure many teams have managed that after getting promoted, especially in this day and age. Look at the teams who came up with us. Fulham, spent £100million, relegated. Cardiff, scrapping for their lives. We are on 47 points. With 11 games to go we were on 40 points, the magic number, some achievement regardless of what happens.’
Keeping the likes of Ruddy happy has been Nuno’s masterstroke. He likes a tight squad — only 18 different players have started a Premier League game — and that fosters a unity and a competitive edge. ‘We have a very small squad, so you all know at any given time you could be called upon,’ says Ruddy. ‘I know we have British and Portuguese but we are all close. It’s apt we play for Wolves, we do have a pack mentality. We stick together and try to get the best out of each other. We have a really good spirit.’
That sense of camaraderie was exhibited explosively in a prank Ruddy played on Nuno during a round of golf last season. ‘We went away to Marbella for warm weather training, and he’d just taken up golf,’ says Ruddy. ‘I thought to myself, “I’ve got an opportunity here.” We said, “What balls are you using boss?” He said he’d just got ones that someone gave to him, so I said, “No, I’ve got these for you, they’ve changed my game.”
‘I’ve given him this ball with no markings on and I thought he wouldn’t buy it but he teed it up. There was about eight of us behind him, shoulders bouncing up and down because we knew what was coming. To be fair it was his best strike of the day, and it’s just gone up in a puff of powder. The lads were rolling around on the floor.
‘Nuno took it incredibly well, saw the funny side, and I think that sums up the spirit we’ve built. We feel very comfortable around him, but we also know when we can’t do stuff like that.’
Ruddy credits Nuno’s stable character with keeping Wolves on an even keel when results have been great or gruesome, such as after the 2-0 home loss to Watford. Nuno tweaked his system to add Leander Dendoncker in midfield and his side have looked a threat against anyone. ‘He is not afraid to make decisions,’ Ruddy says. ‘That’s why we’ve been successful against the big teams, because we believe.’