CHEFS at a Brighouse hotel served up a surprise for former footballer turned TV celebrity Neil “Razor” Ruddock.
The former Liverpool and England player, who was at the Holiday Inn at Clifton for a charity evening to raise funds for the Huddersfield Giants Community Foundation, has confessed to eating a belly-busting 212 steak and kidney pies every year.
So chefs at the three-star hotel planned to welcome him by serving a Desperate Dan-sized version of his favourite dish – made with local ingredients.
“He is obviously a connoisseur of the steak and kidney pie and we hope the one we created for him will rank as one of the best,” said general manager Louise Dodd.
“Pies and football go hand in hand and it seemed a fitting way of welcoming him to our fund-raising night and making him feel at home – as well as giving him a true taste of Yorkshire.”
Razor, known as a football hard-man, was famously involved in an on-field scuffle with Manchester United star Eric Cantona during his five years at Liverpool. His TV appearances have included a stint in the jungle on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
But he admitted that he met his match when faced with the giant pie. “Delicious – but even Desperate Dan would have called it a day before the end,” he said.
The hotel’s Evening with Razor Ruddock also featured an auction of sporting memorabilia and a raffle in aid of the foundation.
