These are the photos of Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock downing pints of beer at a boozy party that caused a row between the former England star and Paul Merson.
The pair clashed in the latest series of ‘Harry’s Heroes‘ after Merson, who has suffered from alcohol addiction in the past, took exception to Ruddock downing pints and shots in the pub during filming.
The former England football stars were enjoying a meal with former England stars Mark Wright and David Seaman along with Seaman’s wife Frankie Poultney and Ruddock’s wife Leah Newman.
Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock pours beer from two pitchers as he enjoys a boozy night out during filming for Harry’s Heroes
Ruddock raises a pint glass in the air along with some of his former England teammates
Ruddock was woken by his former England teammates after the boozy night out and appeared at his balcony wearing no clothes
Former England football star Paul Merson confronted Ruddock, pictured downing a pint, about his drinking habit which sparked a clash between the two
Pictures from the night out show Ruddock pouring beer from two pitchers while Mark Wright cheers and claps.
Another image shows Ruddock drinking a pint.
Notorious football hardman Neil Ruddock threatened to beat up Paul Merson during a heated argument over the former Tottenham and Liverpool defender’s drinking.
Merson delivered a stark warning to an infuriated Ruddock in a TV show, saying that the 52-year-old’s boozing is killing him.
Neil Ruddock (third from left) threatened to beat up Paul Merson (second from left) after the pair clashed over his drinking habits. Former England international Mark Wright, Ruddock’s wife Leah Newman, David Seaman and his wife Frankie Poultney (left-right) watched on
Merson, 52, delivered a stark warning to his friend, saying that his boozing may be killing him
Ruddock was even recorded drinking with a bra on his head, leaving ex-Arsenal star Merson to accost his friend and tell him that his boozing is spiralling out of control.
But Merson, also 52, was soon left in tears after Ruddock furiously retorted and stormed out of the room.
Ruddock had yelled: ‘Don’t shout at me or I’ll get the hump with you.
‘I’ll throw you out the f*****g door. This gives me the hump. F*** off.’
Ruddock told Merson he would throw him ‘out the f*****g door’ and then stormed out the room
After the bust-up, a visibly emotional Merson delivered his thoughts to the camera.
‘No one wants to die, do they?’ he said. ‘I’d probably say he’s scared, confused, frightened. With Neil, he’s a tomorrow man. Tomorrow never comes. It doesn’t matter if you’re the richest person in the world, or the healthiest, we only get today.’
Ruddock, also on the cusp of tears, reflected on the argument – and admitted that Merson’s warning had ‘hurt’.
He told viewers: ‘I’ve just had a barney with Merse. We love each other. We’ve known each other since we were 16.
Ex-Liverpool and Tottenham star Ruddock and Merson have been friends since the age of 16
Merson, who has struggled with alcohol addiction, admitted that the TV show saved his life
‘It’s all right if it’s people you don’t really know telling you “do this, do that”, but when it comes from someone you love, that’s why it hurts so much. It got to me.’
But former Three Lions star Merson, who earned 21 caps during the 1990s, was originally left irked by his old friend’s boozy habits.
After being shown Ruddock’s antics in the pub, Merson said: ‘It’s just winding me up. He’s down there doing bombs and all that, and it’s a joke. He’s sat down with all the lads, and he’s said he’s dying, and they’re drinking with him.
‘If I went in the pub now with them, and said “line me up one”, they’d all go mad. No one would buy me a drink. But they don’t get it with Razor. What’s the difference?
Merson (left) and Ruddock (right) pictured playing for Aston Villa and West Ham respectively
The emotional pair soon patched up their differences and Ruddock vowed he would change
‘You’re getting pictures through with a bra on your head. This is the sad thing, because this is me nine months ago… not knowing what to do, how I’m going to stop. Not seeing any way out. I see that in him now, and that’s why it’s quite hurtful.’
But the pair soon patched up their differences in an emotionally-charged discussion, with Ruddock vowing to change for the better.
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh tracks a team of former England internationals, including Seaman, Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Rob Lee, Ray Parlour, Lee Sharpe, Mark Chamberlain, Wright, Ruddock and Lee Hendrie, managed by former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp and his assistant John Barnes.
Last year the side overcame a Germany Legends team after building up their fitness by increasing their exercise regimes and improving their diets.
This time around Redknapp’s outfit, who lost almost eight stone between them in 2019, will embark on a tour of Europe, taking on sides in France and Italy before the rematch against Germany.
Merson opened up on his alcohol and gambling addiction and credited the show for its help
The ITV show tracks a team of former England internationals – managed by Harry Redknapp (centre) – including (left to right) Rob Lee, Lee Sharpe, Ray Parlour, Lee Hendrie, Mark Wright, Matt Le Tissier, Merson and Mark Chamberlain
And Merson has admitted that the ITV show has saved his life.
He said: ‘From last time, I’m 100 times better, my life’s changed around. Where I was last year compared to now I can’t explain.
‘The impact of being in the team, it saved my life. I was drinking at least 35 pints a week and gambling. But I’m sober and bet free now. As soon as I addressed the drinking I didn’t gamble.
‘I’ve come to realise I’m powerless over alcohol – I’m an alcoholic.
‘I have a disease and it is a disease. My drinking and gambling left a lot of wreckage.
‘As an alcoholic, recovering now those things are hard for me. It’s quite sad really because you look now and think what a waste of a life, some of it.’
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh starts next Monday at 9pm.