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Neil Ruddock spent "two nights on the lash" with Nelson Mandela and had to call him by nickname

Neil Ruddock has lived an exuberant life and the former Liverpool player has shared the story of how he went drinking with iconic South African president Nelson Mandela

Former Liverpool player Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has claimed he spent 'two nights on the lash' with Nelson Mandela in 1994 when in the South Africa for a charity match.

Ruddock is no stranger to wacky tales but a retelling of his time with the former South African president 26 years ago is arguably his most interesting story.

In 1994, a Liverpool squad including Michael Thomas, Dominic Matteo, David James, Bruce Grobbelaar and Steve Nicol travelled to South Africa for a match with Kaizer Chiefs at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.

The Reds won the match 3-0 with two goals from Robbie Fowler and afterwards, the players were greeted by the presence of Mandela, who was handing out drinks.

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Nelson Mandela in a Liverpool shirt with the team in the dressing room in South Africa. Along with first-team coaches Ronnie Moran and Sammy Lee, among the Liverpool players pictured are Steve Nicol, Robbie Fowler, Lee Jones, Rob Jones, John Barnes, David James, Neil Ruddock, Dominic Matteo and Don Hutchison(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"I went two nights on the lash with Nelson Mandela in South Africa," Ruddock told Paddy Power.

"I remember, with Nelson Mandela - with Nels, actually. You had to call him Nels. So, with Nels, we were in JoBurg.

"We played Kaiser Chiefs in JoBurg, and he just turned up, no announcement. He turned up, walked into the dressing room.

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Neil Ruddock of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Southampton in 1996

"Two or three of us afterwards, we went to the bar after and he was handing out all the Castle beer.

"So, we got drunk with Nels that day, then three days later he came down and he turned up again. He said, I enjoyed myself so much the other night Ive come again.

"I told my mum, Ive been with Nelson Mandela, the world leader. She said, what did you talk about? I went, I havent got a clue what the f*** we were talking about.

"It was just like going to the pub with your mates, Sunday afternoon, coming home and your missus going, what did you talk about?

"So, I wasted two nights with Nelson Mandela. "I didnt ask him anything. I think we were singing football songs to him at one stage.

"You cant go, Nels, how was it like being banged up for 15 years? I couldnt say that!"

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