From Rags to Rich's

Jamie Vardy - From Rags to Rich’s

Who would have thought a player from in non-league football whilst working in a factory would become an icon in English football, achieving dreams any kid growing up playing football can only imagine.

Cult is a word or phrase that is used to describe a person due to their antics rather than their performance. Whether it is athletes, artists or actors for instance, a ‘cult hero’ is a given title that isn’t related to their performance.

Regarding a football cult hero, they can be players who are not necessarily blessed with talent, but football fans have certain affinities to these types of players. There have been many cult heroes to grace English football including Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones to name a couple from previous generations.

“People keep asking me if I'm watching our rivals' games in the Premier League, but I'm usually on my PlayStation” - Jamie Vardy

This quote sums up the character of Jamie Vardy. He has been seen as a cult figure in recent years because of his approach to football on and off the pitch. This could be seen as harsh, because there is a great argument that Vardy can be recognised as a Premier League great due to winning trophies and scoring many goals including being in the 100 club for premier league goals.

Jamie Vardy with the Premier League Trophy

Image Credit: Premier League.

The vardy story all started aged 16, when he was released from Sheffield Wednesday. After leaving Sheffield, Vardy found himself at the bottom but determined to work his way back up the footballing ladder in England Stocksbridge Park Steels landed vardy to the 7th tier of football where he joined originally as a youth player.

“When I was playing for the reserves, if you got a call-up, you got a straight £30. I'd never been paid for football!” - Jamie Vardy

To make ends meet Vardy worked in a Carbon Fibre Factory, whilst receiving £30 a game to play. Tough times made Vardy the person he is today, always remembering his routes and what worked for him best.

“When you are moulding 30 an hour, it takes its toll on your body. It got to the point where my back was just hanging off.” - Jamie Vardy

He endured tough times in football and life during the non-league days, eventually his lifestyle took his toll on his body causing injuries and pain to his back. This lifestyle is a reality for many footballers across the UK working full time jobs and playing football 3 times a week.

Tough times included turning to the drink even in his professional days.

“When I lived in Hungerford, it was wake up 5:30 A.M., get to the van at 6 A.M. with eight other blokes, drive to Shinfield, which is in Reading, 45 minutes away. Start at 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. with two half-hour breaks and then home. Train Tuesday and Thursday and then play on Saturday.” - Jamie Vardy

Jamie Vardy during his time at Stocksbridge courtesy of Ross Parry via the Daily Mail

Life on the pitch moved quickly as vardy did what he does best and put the ball in the back of the net. Joining Stocksbridge in 2003 and leaving in 2010, scoring 66 times in 107 games. This was the start of his success.

These goals got him a move to Halifax Town and with a good season in the North Yorkshire, Fleetwood came calling. Scoring 31 goals Leicester City stumped up £1 million pounds in a move which would see him change levels from the conference to the championship., which was a record transfer for non-league player.

Little would Vardy know, but this would be the start of a fairy tale in the midlands.

“Every time I have stepped up a level, I wasn't expecting it to happen, but once it did, I just made sure I worked as hard as I possibly could to stay there”

Vardy always kept his down and worked as hard as he could. He knows what has worked for him and stuck to this.

Vardy gave an insight into his life off the pitch in an interview with sky sports that has since gone viral and probably resonated with a lot of people, especially who are not at the highest level. An extraordinary footballer and athlete who doesn’t follow the norm.

"I wake up in the morning and then [have a] Red Bull. Literally I get out of bed, get the kids up and downstairs, get their breakfast sorted and then I'm straight into the Red Bull.”

“After that we meet at the stadium for pre-match and while I'm getting changed I'll have a coffee - it's better than taking ProPlus. Red Bull, coffee and then when we get over to the pre-match lounge, I'll have my cheese and ham omelette with another can of Red Bull."

Perhaps his caffeine fuelled diet was the driving force for his achievements at Leicester.

Jamie Vardy achieved more than he could have ever dreamed of. Scoring 24 goals and being named in the team of season during Leicester City’s 2015/16 famous Premier League title victory that no one saw coming as they were one of the favourites to get relegated that year.

During this special season Vardy broke Ruud Van Nistelroy’s long standing record by scoring 11 straight premier league goals that still stands to this day.

Jamie Vardy breaking the record courtesy of The Guardian

It was later revealed that Vardy carried superstitions throughout the season. After reading Vardy’s autobiography he mentioned that vardy drank the night before every game during that year.

“I can't say why it started, because I genuinely don't know, but I decided to drink a glass of port on the eve of every game in the 2015-16 season.”

Jamie Vardy’s prolific season earned him international recognition. Achieving 26 caps for the three lions, scoring 7 times. Later retiring internationally in 2018, so that he could prolong his career. Proving to be the correct decision as Vardy is still plying his trade for in the Premier League with his beloved Leicester City.

Vardy is a player that would always play on the last line of the defence, combining this with his electric pace and wonderful finishing ability. He was a real force to be reckoned with.

This interview that Jamie Vardy did with Sky Sports shows what type of man he is. Not listening to anyone else but himself.

Jamie Vardy reveals his unbelievable pre-match diet! | Making It Pro

Off the field, perhaps Vardy has grown into a Cult hero in which many people can relate. A man of the people. Jamie Vardy is what the people love. Of course, he has haters like any successful professional athletes.

Vardy has always come across as himself. For instance, his red bull stories show the real Jamie. To make him run around like crazy on a match day.

He comes across with a Sunday league attitude, similar to that of a player turning up late with no warmup and banging in hattrick like nothing has happened.

He loves to laugh and joke with anyone and everyone. Perhaps like the practical joker on a building site.

He has an ability to wind up the opposition fans like never before. Whether it's his eagle celebration in front of the away end or taking to social media to continue his celebrations.

It is a rag’s to riches story. Hurdling over his obstacles in his life from being released and facing adversity in his life. He wasn’t an academy project given everything, not making his prem debut until aged 27, he is a product of hard work and dedication to make it to the very top. This is an example to anyone not just in football that you have the opportunity in life to do whatever you please.

Jamie Vardy. A true icon of English football who will always be cult.