• In-form striker wants to give others chance to emulate his rapid rise • ‘I know there are players out there in a similar position to where I was’

Jamie Vardy is launching his own academy to give talented non-league players who have slipped under the radar the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. The Leicester City and England striker, who on Saturday could become the first player to score in 11 successive Premier League games, is convinced there are others lower down the pyramid capable of making the step up and he wants to give them every opportunity to emulate him.

After being released by Sheffield Wednesday at the age of 16, Vardy had spells with Stocksbridge Park Steels – in the eighth tier of English football – and Halifax Town before joining Leicester from Fleetwood Town, who were a non-league club at the time, as recently as 2012.

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Vardy’s meteoric rise continued when he was called up to the England squad in May and, remarkably, he has since gone on to equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League matches. Another goal in Saturday’s top-of-the-table match against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium would give Vardy the record outright.

The 28-year-old has not, however, forgotten his football roots and for the past six months he has been working on setting up an academy to give players from a similar background the chance to pursue their dreams. He plans to hold an annual week-long residential camp where 60 non-league players will receive coaching and guidance on all aspects of the game as well as get the chance to perform in front of league clubs.

“I know there are players out there in a similar position to where I was, that just need an opportunity,” Vardy said. “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 and Morris will begin taking applications next May and the first intake will start 12 months later, with the England international due to get married next summer and also in with a decent chance of making Roy Hodgson’s squad for the European Championship finals in France.

The primary reason for the delay in getting the academy off the ground, however, is to allow enough time to scout and assess the suitability of players to attend an academy that Vardy wants to be run as professionally as possible. While at the academy the players will be evaluated technically, tactically, mentally and physically; Premier League and Football League clubs will be invited to watch training and trial matches with a view to taking a closer look at anyone who stands out.

Vardy will be present throughout the camp and the hope is they can uncover a few more rough diamonds. “We believe there are many more Jamie Vardys out there,” said Morris, who works for Key Sports Management. “The V9 Academy aims to find them.”

Any player in non-league football can apply to attend the academy via the V9 Academy website. Visit www.V9Academy.co.uk