The rise of Jamie Vardy

Released by Sheffield Wednesday at 16 years old, then playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels, on £30 a week, before moving to Halifax FC, then being spotted at Fleetwood and finishing up being signed by Leicester.

It is now reported he has just signed a contract worth at least £75,000 a week, not bad for a lad earning at most £120 a week in non-league footb all.

This young man has had his personal problems but like the majority of our youngsters he has learned from them and is now a full England international and more importantly a very good one.

How many more young ‘Jamie Vardys’ are out there playing Sunday league football?

Young lads that will never ever get their chance, simply because the powers-that- be prefer to import foreign players rather than give our own a chance.

Don’t tell me we have no young lads good enough because I think we have, but the clubs, especially most of the Premiership ones are not interested in our youngsters, only the finished article, who all seem to be from abroad, many already burned out when they arrive here.

Nonetheless the multi-million pound foreign transfers continue.

Rather disgusting really, yet again the only thing that rules I am afraid is cash along with greed.

Terry Palmer

South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74