VARDY’S YOUNG GUNS FLY THE FLAG IN STYLE

THE strength of Non-League football was wonderfully illustrated by the achievements of the 42 lads at Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy this week.

Anyone who’s watched a warm-up will know that semi-pro players are every bit as talented as their EFL counterparts. Technically, at least, they can all pluck a ball out of the sky, all pick a pass, all perform more tricks than Paul Daniels.

Some lack attitude and application. Others are too successful outside of football to risk staking their future on an unstable profession.

For many, however, all that’s really missing is quality full-time coaching, decent pitches and an opportunity to showcase their skills.

That’s exactly what Vardy – who stumped up £100,000 of his own cash – provided in the week-long training camp at the Etihad, which aimed to give some of Non-League’s leading lights a chance to perform in front of scouts and agents. And boy, did those players seize it.

Divided into three teams, the first V9 side – containing Step 5 player Curtis Coppen – vanquished a PFA outfit of recently-released pros.

The second beat TNS 3-2. When you consider that the Saints have won the Welsh title six seasons running and are already three weeks deep into pre-season, that is some achievement for a bunch of strangers.

Finally, Bangor City – soon to enter the Europa League qualifiers – were demolished 3-0 in a game watched by 60plus scouts.

OK, so not all of the players were part-time. Several had played National League football, which is arguably superior to the Welsh top flight. Some had even started life in academies.

But the fact remains that those players out-performed two experienced sides with European ambitions with a minimum of preparation.

That speaks not only of their ability but also their intelligence and capacity to absorb information. Surely those watching will have been impressed.