Sunderland schoolgirl hopes to be Black Cat good luck charm

Not only did wife Joanna give birth to daughter Ruby, the life-long Black Cat fan celebrated his beloved SAFC beating arch rivals Newcastle at home for the first time in 28 years.

Being a Black Cat was always going to be in Ruby’s blood and now the Fulwell youngster, eight, will lead out her heroes onto the hallowed turf after winning our mascot competition.

Hundreds of you entered our competition to be a mascot at next Sunday’s clash with Manchester United at the Stadium of Light, with Ruby chosen as the winner in the hopes she’ll prove a good luck charm once again.

Mum Joanna went into labour with Ruby half an hour before kick-off for the momentous match in 2008, meaning her first two hours of labour were spent listening to the match on the radio and the eventual screams from Scott as Kieran Richardson smashed home the winning free kick.

Scott, who’s had a season ticket for the past 30 years, said: “Joanna was actually due on October 11, I’d checked the fixtures and thought it would be fine as the game would be two weeks later. But as the match got closer and closer, Ruby still hadn’t come and Joanna was induced.

“My brother in law came to the hospital and got my season ticket off me and we listened to it on the radio in a largely Mag-supporting QE Hospital.

“Sunderland winning and Ruby being born made it the best day of my life. Then I went home and watched it on Match of the Day.”

Fulwell Infants School pupil Ruby has gone on to become a huge football fan and, as well as having her own season ticket, plays football herself for Boldon Girls.

Little sister Ivy, one, has also proved good luck for the Black Cats, with mum Joanna attending her first derby match when she was seven months pregnant in which Jermain Defoe scored his wonder goal against Newcastle.

Scott, who runs his own architectural ironmongery business, added: “It’s literally made her life to be mascot.”