Let’s turn New York Stadium pink in Ruby’s memory — fans urged to pay tribute to toddler

Keen supporter Ryan Tucker said he had planned to take 21-month-old Ruby (right) to her first match soon.

Ryan, of Thorpe Hesley, said he and his devastated family were still     coming to terms with their loss after Ruby went to sleep on March 8 and never woke up.

Pink ribbons are being sold as a tribute to the toddler in aid of Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where Ruby was taken after she died.

And Ryan said: “We would love the New York Stadium to be plastered with these ribbons for our first game back on April 7. I would like it to be as comforting as possible, so it would be brilliant to see the ribbons there.

“There are a lot of people in our area who have put them on their houses already.”

Rotherham United are understood to be considering Ryan’s proposed pink ribbons and have pledged to include a tribute to the little girl and in their matchday programme and on their big screen at half-time.

Devastated Ryan told the Advertiser there had appeared to be nothing wrong with Ruby the night before she died.

“We went out for my 40th birthday, which is also my son’s birthday,” he said.

“Ruby was happy... She went to bed and did not wake up. We don’t know why.

“She had a postmortem but they haven’t given us a reason yet. She was healthy as far as we know. We just don’t know what happened.”

Ryan said money raised from the sale of pink ribbons could help research “to try and get better answers for people”.

Millmoor Juniors Football Club, for whom Jack plays, paid tribute to Ruby at their cup game last Sunday by wearing pink armbands and holding a minute’s applause.

The club said: “Ruby was very much part of the the Millmoor Juniors family and will be truly missed by us all.

“Jack was on fire, scoring five, and his overall performance is probably the best we’ve ever seen. He said he did it for his sister.”

A spokesperson for the Millers said: “Everyone at Rotherham United would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to all of Ruby’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“It is always deeply saddening to learn of the passing of one of our supporters, but to hear of losing a life so young is heartbreaking.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Ryan and the rest of the family and we hope that the gestures that we intend on making at the game against West Bromwich Albion are able to bring them some comfort at this deeply distressing time.”

The spokesperson said Ruby’s brother Jack may also be invited to watch the warm-up from the dugouts “as a little something to take his mind of this incredibly distressing situation”.

More than £4,300 has already been pledged towards an online appeal to support Ruby’s family, with some of this total going to the children’s hospital.

“We as a family are just blown away,” said Ryan, “We have a great community here.”

Visit tinyurl.com/rubytuckerpinkribbon to donate to the appeal to support the family.

The ribbons are available from the Ball Inn and Thorpe Hesley Primary School.