Vardy rose from a non-league striker with Stocksbridge Park Steels all the way to winning the Premier League and playing in the Champions League with Leicester.
Now it seems the East Midlands club are keen to follow the same formula by scouting for the best lower league talent around to bolster their ranks.
By Scott Francis
Manager Craig Shakespeare has sent his scouts to search the non-league with a fine tooth comb to find a diamond in the rough.
One of those lucky enough to catch the eye was Kidderminster's Andre Brown.
On Monday night he started for Leicester under-23s away at Reading under-23s which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Having recently been released by Crewe Alexandra, the 20-year-old from Walsall, admits fearing his dream of making it to the very top was fading.
Brown said: “I was only released by Crewe 12 months before the trial, so I never thought such a big club would be interested in me.”
With 14 goals this season it is easy to see why the young striker caught the eye of the champions of England.
He said: “I played against Nuneaton and there were Leicester scouts there watching the Nuneaton left back.
“A few days later my chairman contacted me and said, ‘the Leicester scouts that came to our game were really impressed with how you played and want you to go on trial and play against Northern Ireland in a friendly’.
“This has given much such a sense of belief and confidence to believe in my abilities and me realise how good I am and can be.”
Brown is thankful to his current club for giving him a chance to prove himself, he said: “Kidderminster have been great to me, not many teams would sign a player at my age with little first-team experience and play me as much as they have done.
“I think 14 goals in 15 starts was the least I could do.”
However, the West Midlands player also believes his mum is the main reason why he has excelled in his football career saying: “One day I would love to play in the Premier League, that would be a dream come true not just myself but for my family, especially my mum.
“She has been a single parent looking after three boys from the beginning.
“She took me up the motorway four times per week, every week for 10 years whilst looking after two older brothers at the same time.
“So without my mum all this wouldn’t be possible.”
Brown believes the rise of Jamie Vardy can give non-league players the encouragement to work hard one day they might earn the opportunity to reach the top level.
“It is 100% a breath of fresh air seeing players come from the non-league and go onto winning the Premier League.
“It makes me want to work harder because one day I might have that opportunity.”
