John Ruddy

Infobox Football biography
playername = John Ruddy


fullname = John Thomas Gordon Ruddy
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|10|24
cityofbirth = St. Ives, Cambridgeshire
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=5
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub = Everton
clubnumber = 30
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2004–2005
2005–
2005
2005
2005–2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
clubs = Cambridge United
Everton
→ Walsall (loan)
→ Rushden & Diamonds (loan)
→ Chester City (loan)
→ Stockport County (loan)
→ Wrexham (loan)
→ Bristol City (loan)
→ Stockport County (loan)
caps(goals) = 39 (0)
01 (0)
05 (0)
03 (0)
04 (0)
11 (0)
05 (0)
01 (0)
12 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 19:36, 24 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

John Thomas Gordon Ruddy (born October 24, 1986) is an English footballer. Born in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, and having tried numerous positions at youth level, he eventually settled as a goalkeeper and it was in this position that he made his professional debut in the final game of the season at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road stadium on 8 May 2004, noticeable for a clean-sheet and penalty save.

Career

Everton

After starting his professional career at Cambridge United, he moved to Everton in the summer of 2005 for a fee of around £250,000, reportedly rising based on appearances. This was deemed as a big move for the youngster, moving to the newly-qualified European team from relegated Cambridge United, who finished the season some 88 places below in the Football League ladder.

Ruddy, nicknamed 'Ice' by teammates, was called into the England Under-19 squad in 2005 after being scouted by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence and has been touted by his manager David Moyes as a future England 'keeper. For the present time however he will learn his trade behind first choice keeper Tim Howard and the young Scottish keeper Iain Turner.

In September 2005, Ruddy signed for Walsall on loan, making four appearances in League One before being allowed to return to Everton. Loan spells with Rushden & Diamonds and Chester City soon followed.

Ruddy made his first team debut for Everton in February 2006, but in a rather bizarre way. Nine minutes into the match against Blackburn Rovers, Iain Turner was sent off for handling outside the area. Since Turner was substituting for injured first-choice and second-choice keepers Nigel Martyn and Richard Wright, it meant that Ruddy was the only keeper left who could play. Ruddy went on to keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory.Fact|date=March 2008

In September 2006, Ruddy was given another chance on loan. A one-month deal was agreed with Stockport County, which was extended to three months after an impressive performance. Since then he agreed another one month loan with Wrexham in February 2007 but failed to establish a place in the team during his time at the Racecourse Ground and the Red Dragons decided against extending the loan beyond the initial month. On April 21 Ruddy completed an emergency one week loan to League One side Bristol City and helped them move closer to promotion. He is currently out on loan, having a second spell with Stockport County.

His many loan spells mean Ruddy played for eight clubs before he turned 21.

Professional playing record

External links

*soccerbase|id=38215|name=John Ruddy
* [http://www.evertonfc.com/match/squad.html?player_id=46 The Official Website of Everton FC] : player profile of John Ruddy by his current club