Leicester City Star Jamie Vardy to Open Up an Academy for Non-League Footballers

Jamie Vardy's sensational form has made him one of, if not the story of the Premier League this season. 

But even as the Englishman is on the verge of Premier League goalscoring history, as he's currently level with Ruud van Nistelrooy for goals in consecutive league games (10), he hasn't forgotten his humble non-league upbringings. 

Vardy is setting up an academy designed to help out non-league footballers with exposure and coaching, so that hopefully they can follow the blueprint set by Vardy to leap from non-league football to bigger things. It will be one-week long annually and will play host up to 60 players. 

The 28-year-old explained his thinking to the Guardian. 

"

I know there are players out there in a similar position to where I was, that just need an opportunity. More and more players are dropping out of the system early. 

For me, it was at Sheffield Wednesday when I was 16 because they thought I was too small. I remember how that felt and it's difficult to come back from or even think about the professional game. 

I've thought for some time that something could be done about it and after several conversations with my agent, John Morris, and my fiancee, Becky, we decided to set up V9 to unearth talent and give those players a shot—hopefully at earning professional contracts but also to learn and understand what it takes to be a professional at the highest level.

"

Vardy played non-league football as recently as 2012. 

[the Guardian]