One ‘upset’ non league club are reportedly set to remove Jamie Vardy’s name from their stand in a desperate bid to raise funds.
Stocksbridge Park Steels was the club that the Premier League striker launched his career, and in his honour, they name the stand after him.
However the Northern Premier League Division One South East outfit are now hard-up of cash, not helped by the coronavirus pandemic and early cancellation of the 2019/20 season.
Various top players have helped out their former lower league sides as they battle with their financial plight, however Stocksbridge have been left upset the multi-millionaire star’s decision to ignore their problems.
Jamie Vardy’s Premier League record:
? Games: 211
⚽ Goals: 103
? Assists: 3410 years ago, he was playing for Stocksbridge Park in the 8th tier of English football. ?
Now he’s a Premier League winner, and Premier League Golden Boot winner. ? pic.twitter.com/e6XFmHHjqG
— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) July 26, 2020
Now the South Yorkshire club are wanting to find a new sponsor, which will replace the metal sign placed on the side of their stand, which is in recognition of Vardy scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games in 2015, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record.
Park Steels chairman Graham Furness said: “If we can get a sponsor for the stand we will take his name off it – needs must, to be fair.
“At the moment we need to raise as much income as we can because since the pandemic started most of our income streams have stopped.
“We are looking at £16,000 sponsorship for two seasons and we’re talking to someone at the moment – but if Vardy wants to pay it to keep his name there he can.”
I bet Jamie Vardy never thought he’d have a stand named after him when he made his debut for @parksteelsfc pic.twitter.com/VxCkpmuzpa
— NonLeagueBlogs (@NonLeagueBlogs) November 1, 2016
Vardy is Leicester’s highest-paid player on £140,000 per week and said to be worth £12million. Park Steels’ annual playing budget is £37,000.
Yet the chairman of the non league club has stated he and his fellow board members were ‘upset’, hurt and surprised that their former player hasn’t rescued them, so now they are to remove the sign from their stand.
He said: “Jamie Vardy has gone off the radar a bit with his old connections, which is sad if I’m being honest.
“We haven’t asked for any help from Jamie but we are aware he knew about our plight but hasn’t done anything.
“When you think of the money he’s earned you would like to think he might do something to help.
“Harry Kane did something for Leyton Orient and you would like to think that would spur him on but obviously not.”
Vardy’s spell with Park Steels last seven season, going on to score 66 goals in 107 league games having been released by Sheffield Wednesday at 16 for being too small.
Park Steels stood him when, at 20 years old, he was convicted for a criminal assault and had to wear an electronic tag on an ankle, SunSport reports.
He was also allowed to depart games early or be excused from playing in extra-time so that he could be home by the 6pm curfew.
Stocksbridge cashed in £15,000 from Halifax for the striker in 2010 and also received a £25,000 sell-on fee when the Shaymen sold him to Fleetwood for £150,000.
Vardy’s 31 goals in 36 appearances not only helped Fleetwood win promotion to the Football League but it earned him a £1million transfer to Leicester.
Furness said: “Selling him to Halifax helped us out and we were thankful for the sell-on clause which we were more than happy with at the time.
“But lately we’ve had a horrendous couple of months just after lockdown because the tractor engine blew up and vandals broke into our training ground and broke the mobile goal.
“Then our sponsors decided not to renew their deals because of the uncertainty — and there was a real danger we wouldn’t be able to start the season at this level.”
The club used crowdfunding to fix the tractor that trims the pitch and recently secured a new sponsor, Eco Power Environment, to safeguard their future until 2022.
Furness added: “I didn’t expect anything from Jamie and he’s not obliged to give anything.
“We’re not going to force the lad. If he donates, fantastic — if he doesn’t, people will make up their own minds about that.”
A spokesperson for Vardy said: “Jamie is disappointed to hear these comments, especially as he has had no formal approach from anybody at Stocksbridge.
“Jamie is a huge supporter of non-league football and he has helped many players fulfil their dreams in the game through his V9 Academy, which he funds himself.
“Jamie will continue to champion non-league football and invest in helping players follow in his footsteps.”
With the ‘upset’ non league club set to remove Jamie Vardy’s name from their stand, fans gave their thoughts on it all…
Exactly my thoughts
— W1LL14M (@william19368399) May 11, 2020
He will for sure it’s an absolute given
— Matthew (@Matthew29210020) May 11, 2020
If only there was some money in football that could be shared?
— steve curtis (@Stevecurtis74) May 11, 2020
Course he’ll put his hand in his pocket now it’s all over talksport and Twitter. His missus needs popularity points after the Colleen Rooney leaks, so he’ll probably come out and donate the last 50 quid and say it was her idea #Publicity even though he probably knew weeks ago.
— Ade (@My_Hyde_and_me) May 11, 2020
Fucking hate Vardy but he will go up in my estimations if he helps them out, doubt he will though.
— Gary Turnbull (@GaryTurnbull17) May 11, 2020
I don’t doubt he’ll bail ’em out anyway.
— Jeff Hurst. (@jeffurs) May 12, 2020
Sure he’s not losing any sleep.
— Neal Patrick (@nealpatrick86) May 12, 2020
Hopefully reg will help out if he can
— Carl Fothergill (@carlfov26) May 11, 2020
Vardy himself could help massively
— Jim (@devilsred11) May 12, 2020
I’m sure Vardy could buy the club himself if it really meant that much to him! Instead ask us people that aren’t currently working!! Crazy
— Ryan Godbehere (@GodbehereRyan2) May 12, 2020
That’s 20 grand mrs vardy would rather spend on herself
— Jake (@jbonnett23) May 11, 2020
Surely Vardy can just get some change out of his back pocket to save the club
— Callum Cutler (@calcutler) May 11, 2020
Cos the club gave him a chance when no one else did and helped him on the path to become a multimillionaire.
Of course its his prerogative, he’s not obliged to donate owt, but be nice if he could help out with a few quid.
— Gavin Lambert (@GavlarLambert) May 11, 2020
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