User:Jonintokyo

Geoffrey Ruddick, born 27 February 1949 to Joseph and Evelyn Palliser Ruddick (nee Laidlaw), in High Howdon, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. The second of two sons, one elder brother Bernard, Geoffrey grew up in Newcastle and attended St. Aidans infants through to senior school. A gifted sportsman Geoffrey was a competitive swimmer, diver, cricketer and footballer in his youth. He played football for the well known Wallsend Boys Club (other players over time include Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle and Alan Shearer amongst others). He was selected for the British Diving Team for the 1972 Olypmpics but UK funds did not allow at the time. Geoffrey's professional sporting days came to premature end after an opposing player during a game of football shattered his right knee cap. The result was approximately six months of hospitalisation. Whilst amazingly he played four competitive games for the "Toon" long before they became a top flight club in the early nineties, his tanacity and "Geodie" can do will be remebered. Geoffrey emigrated to Australia in 1985 with his wife Nancy and their two children Caroline and Jonathan. Ironically his son shunned football and became a member of the South Australian XV state side to tour New Zealand. After a career predominantly in the insurance industry Geoffrey retired in the early 1990's.

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