vardy 'buzzing' for wasp
Jamie Vardy delighted after spending £100k to help another non-league star land a pro deal
Tamworth striker Danny 'The Wasp' Newton is set to follow in England star's footsteps after ditching factory job
THE hunt for the next Jamie Vardy may be over after Tamworth star Danny Newton signed a pro deal with League Two Stevenage.
Leicester striker Vardy spent £100,000 of his own money trying to help others follow his incredible journey from non-league to international football.
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And 26-year-old Newton - given a chance to impress scouts by the V9 Academy - is giving up his job in a Leicester factory to try and make it.
Vardy, who also worked in a plant before getting his shot, said: “When I found out Danny had received an offer from Stevenage I was buzzing.
“He was one of the first players that we recruited to the academy and he seems to have had a similar journey to myself.”
Vardy was 26 when he cracked the Football League after impressing at Fleetwood to earn a move to Leicester.
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And since hitting the Premier League with the Foxes he has not looked back - forcing his way into the England reckoning.
Vardy, 30, believes there are more talents out there who just need to be given an opportunity.
And Newton - nicknamed "wasp" because of the way he harries defenders - could be the first in a number of talents to follow in the pacey forward's footsteps.
Jamie Vardy's meteoric rise
2002: Released from Sheffield Wednesday academy
2003-2010: Stocksbridge Park Steels
2010-2011: Joins Halifax Town (Northern Premier League)
2011-2012: Joins Fleetwood Town (Conference National)
2012: Signs for Championship Leicester
2014: Promoted to Premier League
2015: First England cap
2016: Premier League champion
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Academy founder John Morris, also Vardy’s agent, added: “The academy has proved that there are league players within the non-leagues.
"Danny is a great example that it is never too late to fulfil your dream of being a professional footballer.
“We are sure more V9 academy hopefuls will follow Danny’s footsteps into professional football.
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“The academy has put the players firmly in the shop window and given them a fantastic learning experience, which will undoubtedly benefit their future careers.
"The players were excellent throughout the week and deserve to be given an opportunity in the professional game.”
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal representatives were among the 60 scouts who watched the showcase games at Manchester City’s Football Academy.
Five players have been invited to join pre-season training at professional clubs and may be offered deals.
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