VARDY PROTEGE IS THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Newton lands pro deal to follow in Vardy’s footsteps

WHEN Danny Newton first clapped eyes on Jamie Vardy at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium back in November, you’d never have imagined the two had so much in common.

While Newton was only just beginning to make a name for himself in National League North with Tamworth, fellow Non-League protégé Vardy had just fired the Foxes to the Premier League title and forced his way into the England reckoning.

Fast forward seven months, however, and the comparisons have suddenly become a little more real. On Monday, Newton completed a dream move to Stevenage and, with it, became the first graduate of Vardy’s V9 Academy to land a professional contract at a Football League club.

Buzzing

But that’s not where the similarities end. Twenty-six-year-old Newton, nicknamed ‘The Wasp’ for his Vardy-like tenacity, was working in a Leicestershire factory when Stevenage came calling – much like Vardy before his big breakthrough via the likes of Stocksbridge Park Steels and FC Halifax Town.

On his way to tallying 34 goals for Tamworth last year, Newton was headhunted as one of first three graduates to sign on to the V9 Academy and never looked back, culminating in a head-turning performance in front of top scouts at the end-of-season training camp a fortnight ago.

And Vardy, who pledged over £100,000 of his own money to launch the V9 Academy, was quick to express his delight at having presented an opportunity for Newton to follow him on the glory trail.

“When I found out Danny had received an offer from Stevenage I was buzzing,” Vardy said. “He was one of the first players that we recruited to the Academy and he seems to have had a similar journey to myself.”

Equally, Newton is mighty proud to have become the Academy’s first major success story – and is now encouraging young players to follow in his footsteps and reap the rewards of the V9 route to success.

“V9 gave me a new lease of life,” Newton, the former Nuneaton, Hinckley and Leamington striker told The NLP. “When I signed up at 25, I thought my chance had gone, but it gave me the opportunity to play in a bigger shop window and I can only thank everyone at V9 for that.

“I had a good season at Tamworth but I don’t know how many people would have noticed what I was doing there. It’s given me, and a number of other really good players out there, a chance to be spotted on the big stage. I owe them a great deal.”

Newton will now ply his trade at a club who know all about nurturing Non-League talent and taking them to the next level.

This time last year, Stevenage took a punt on Ebbsfleet’s Matt Godden and within 12 months turned him into one of League Two’s most highly sought-after talents with his 20 goals from 37 appearances alerting the attentions of a number of Championship and League One clubs.

“Seeing what Matt Gooden did last season in his first full year really inspired me. He hit the ground running and had an amazing season,” Newton added. “I don’t want to jump the gun and set targets of scoring 20plus goals; I just want to get in the team first and get comfortable with the standard I need to achieve.”