Goalkeepers have a special place in the hearts of Norwich City fans – mostly for the right reasons.





Kevin Keelan is the club’s leading appearance maker; Ken Nethercott, a brave, modest and brilliant hero; Bryan Gunn – a legend whose son Angus is now performing heroics between the sticks.

The list goes on and City fans love them all. And they loved John Ruddy, who will be in the Wolves goal tonight at Carrow Road, his first visit back to the place he used to call home.

Whether or not he ever goes into the history books along with Keelan, Nethercott, Gunn and Co is up for debate, but he will be forever remembered for the dignified way he represented Norwich City – including his exit at the end of last season, a victim of changing fortunes at Carrow Road.

There was no Andy Marshall style departure – Ruddy was one of seven players who were told their contracts would not be renewed when the season was over. Salaries had to be cut – and Ruddy, Sebastien Bassong, Steven Whittaker, Ryan Bennett, Youssouf Mulumbu, Michael Turner and Kyle Lafferty all went.

The Pink Un: John Ruddy - a key part of City's success in recent years before his exit in the summer. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdJohn Ruddy - a key part of City's success in recent years before his exit in the summer. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

The decision was made before the final game of the season, against Queens Park Rangers. All were told they could opt out of the game if they wanted.

Six did. Ruddy didn’t.

He was given the captain’s armband for the day and signed off with a clean sheet in a 4-0 win.

“I was determined to play and it was never a question of not playing or not training, I wanted to finish it off right and luckily we got the result,” he said.

The Pink Un: John Ruddy celebrates victory in front of the Ipswich fans at Portman Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdJohn Ruddy celebrates victory in front of the Ipswich fans at Portman Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

The fans sang his name, the banners appeared, there were tears and there were thank yous.

It was a most dignified exit.

“Today was a fantastic way to go out with a result like that and the clean sheet and the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans, it meant a lot to me,” said Ruddy.

Ruddy joined City from Everton in the summer of 2010, signed by Paul Lambert, and helped the club to two promotions to the Premier League. He made 243 appearances, which puts him joint 44th on the club’s all-time appearances list.

The Pink Un: John Ruddy makes his first competitive return to Norwich City on Tuesday. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdJohn Ruddy makes his first competitive return to Norwich City on Tuesday. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Ruddy is one of five ever-presents this season at Wolves where his team-mates include Bennett, although the central defender has had just one league start this season – a 4-0 win at Burton Albion at the end of last month.

The Pink Un: John Ruddy poses for a selfie. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images LtdJohn Ruddy poses for a selfie. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)