Non-league to top-flight rise 'a killer' on body and mind - Vardy

Breaking news from the world of sport: Non-league to top-flight rise 'a killer' on body and mind - VardyImage source, Netflix UKImage caption, Jamie Vardy features in Netflix series UntoldByNizaar Kinsella Football reporterPublished15 minutes ago"A raw, caged animal, drinking, partying and fighting" is the opening line of a new Netflix film about the life of Jamie Vardy. Vardy, 39 and now playing in the Italian top flight with Cremonense, uses a harsher expletive to describe himself in the documentary. Yet, his story is also refreshing as an underdog, rags-to-riches hero, who is attempting to reflect on his life and career to a group of journalists at Netflix's HQ in London.

"I don't have time to reflect, to be honest," Vardy says, speaking after the first screening of his Untold UK film, with wife Rebekah watching on quietly but occasionally reacting to questions or her husband's responses. "At the minute, it's playing, the season finishes and I just want to forget about football. I need to mentally forget everything and get back to a normal place.

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"Vardy knew when he chose Cremonense over Dutch club Feyenoord in the summer that he was joining a team facing a relegation battle, and they remain in the drop zone with three matches left to play. "Physically and mentally, football is a killer," he continues. "It's such a grind on your body and your mind, so I just want to completely forget about it.

"It is not a complaint from Vardy, who clarifies: "Of course I love it. If I didn't still love it, I wouldn't still be playing. "But asked whether he would relive the journey, he admits: "If you asked me to go and do it all again, I wouldn't.

"From playing in the eighth tier at Stocksbridge Park Steels to winning the Premier League and becoming an England international while at Leicester City, it is easy to see what a gruelling journey it has been. A story of pitfalls narrowly avoidedImage source, Netflix UKImage caption, A series of Vardy photo portraits were made to accompany the filmVardy was released by his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday for being too small, but the documentary unearths footage of his blistering goalscoring form in his Stocksbridge days while also working in a factory making medical splints. However, in the first of a series of problems in 2007, Vardy admits in the documentary he had "no stability" in his life.

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He had been convicted of assault when out drinking and had to wear an ankle tag for six months. He also had a 6pm curfew which meant he had to leave matches early. Moves to Halifax Town - where Vardy met his long‑time agent John Morris - and later Fleetwood Town followed, before his £1m move to then‑Championship club Leicester City.

Woven throughout are "The Inbetweeners" - a nickname given to Vardy's small, all‑male social group from Sheffield - who act as his main support, alongside his wife. "If one of us is having a problem, then get it in the group. Might get abused for a bit but at least it's us lot keeping an eye on each other," Vardy says.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.