Neil Ruddock, known for his tough playing style, became a key figure during his career, particularly noted for his rivalry against Ian Wright in the 1993 FA Cup semi-final. The match saw Ruddock tasked with stopping Wright, who was having a standout season. Despite a hard-fought battle, Tottenham lost the match 1-0, missing the chance to advance to the FA Cup final. Ruddock's physical play against Wright was memorable to him, and they later formed a friendly bond as room-mates at West Ham.
Ruddock recalls, "We lost 1-0 in a North London derby, FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal. We should have had a penalty; Darren Anderton got brought down but the referee panicked and gave us a corner. That game sticks in my head because everybody wanted to play in the FA Cup final and that was our big chance. We played well."
Ruddock said, "I was marking Ian Wright and kicked him all around Wembley, which I LOVED put that in capitals in case he reads it!"
Ruddock reflects on his time spent marking Wright during their rivalry, highlighting the physicality of their play. They later became friends as room-mates at West Ham.
The intense rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal is evident in Ruddock’s memories of the FA Cup semi-final, showcasing his uncompromising defensive style against Wright.
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