The Top Flight
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Record Breaker: Is Jamie Vardy For Real?!

By Andrew Chapados

Jamie Vardy. Credit Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jamie_Vardy_08_sierpnia_2015.jpg).
Jamie Vardy. Credit Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jamie_Vardy_08_sierpnia_2015.jpg). /
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He’s scored in 10 straight Premier League games. He’s taken a four-goal lead (13) over Romelu Lukaku (9) on the BPL goal-scorers table. He is Jamie Vardy.

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One-third of the way into the campaign and shockingly Leicester are top of the league (albeit by a point) with still many more tests to come, including Manchester United this week, thanks in a huge part to Jamie Vardy.

However, Vardy’s journey to the top has not been an easy one, and it is no wonder he has inspired articles surrounding new crops of “homegrown heroes”.

Even the great Ruud van Nistelrooy is wishing him luck in his attempt to break the all-time record for goals in successive Premier League games. However, the light hasn’t always shined so bright on the Sheffield native.

Outlook Not So Good

After being released by hometown club Sheffield Wednesday, Vardy’s youth career started with Stocksbridge Park Steels. After making his way through the reserves and up to the starting 11, other squads started to take notice.

He later began a short loan of just a week at Crewe Alexendra which opened more eyes. Although he didn’t stay at the club, he certainly garnered more attention. So much so he felt necessary to decline an offer with Rotherham United and opt for Halifax Town.

Jamie_Vardy_07-04-12
Vardy in Fleetwood Town colours circa 2012. Via Wikipedia. /

Halifax & Fleetwood

Vardy’s impact was felt right away with his new team scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Buxton; quite the first impression. 27 goals later and Vardy had earned himself top scorer on the team and a Players’ Player of the Season Award to go with it.

It would take just a year for him to earn a spot on Fleetwood Town F.C. but was scoreless in his first two games. Although, like the man we’ve come to know, he scored twice in the following three matches; enough to quell any Manager’s worries.

A month later he lifted himself out of a scoring dought with a hat-trick and eventually scored another 10 goals in just six games across all competitions. All of this ended in Fleetwood earning its first ever promotion to The Football League.

"I hope he does [it]…records are there to be broken. -Ruud van Nistelrooy"

Million Dollar Man

Capping off his successful season Vardy was signed for a non-league record £1 million by Leicester.

His first season saw just four goals, but his second morphed him into the club’s foremost prolific striker, earning him another Players’ Player of the Season and 16 goals in 37 apps, en route to Leicester’s promotion to the Premier League.

There, his biggest splash of the season would be a stunning comeback over Robin Van Persie and Man Utd.

Full Circle

15 months after his debut in the top flight Vardy will no doubt be turned to once again to defeat Manchester United, the team just one point behind them in the standings.

If Jamie Vardy leads his team to victory, not only will it create some much needed breathing room at the top the table, it will be a record-setting venture from a young man from Sheffield who has come a hell of a long way to get to where he is at.

Next: Lower Leagues The Future Of Premier League

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