Jamie Vardy’s new Netflix film rolls back the curtain on a journey that began in the eighth tier and ended in the Premier League. The 39‑year‑old, now with Cremonense, admits the climb was a mental and physical grind, describing himself as a “raw, caged animal” during his early days.

Early footage shows Vardy firing goals for Stocksbridge Park Steels while juggling a factory job. A 2007 assault conviction and an ankle tag forced a 6 pm curfew, but a move to Halifax Town introduced him to agent John Morris, who later backed a £1 million transfer to Leicester City.

At Leicester, Vardy endured culture shock and drinking binges, even brewing homemade vodka, until manager Nigel Pearson and a psychologist helped him straighten out. The striker’s hard work paid off when he became the top scorer in Leicester’s 2015‑16 Premier League title‑winning side and lifted the FA Cup.

Now in his forties, Vardy says he would not relive the journey if asked, but he credits the support of his “Inbetweeners” group and wife Rebekah for keeping him grounded. His decision to join Cremonense over Feyenoord keeps him in a relegation battle, underscoring the relentless physical toll of top‑flight football.