John Ruddy takes to the pitch with his son, who was a mascot for the day before the match with Liverpool. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.

Birthday treat for John Ruddy’s son

Richard Wood Sunday, September 30, 2012
1:12 PM

There was a special family moment ahead of the Norwich game on Saturday when John Ruddy was joined on the pitch by his son.

The City ‘keeper’s son was celebrating his fifth birthday and as a treat had the opportunity to be one of the mascots for the Premier League match with Liverpool.

The two walked out of the tunnel at Carrow Road hand-in-hand, with the player’s son dressed in a full matching kit, complete with ‘Ruddy 1’ printed on the back of his goalkeeper shirt and a distinctive pair of yellow boots.

The England international had announced that his son would be joining him on the pitch through his Twitter account, @Johnruddy86, hours before the match.

He said: “Happy birthday to the best son in the world! 5 years have flown by! He is mascot today so give him a big cheer canaries!!”

Norwich went on to lose the game 5-2.