'Vardy is an old-fashioned, working-class hero'

[Getty Images]Former Leicester chairman Jon Holmes has been reflecting on "extraordinary character" Jamie Vardy's career at the club after it was announced on Thursday the striker would be leaving at the end of the season.Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's Football Forum, Holmes said: "I've been watching since 1957, the hero then was Arthur Rowley. At the end of that season he unexpectedly left and Rowley is our second-highest scorer.

We have now reached the situation where we have the third-highest scorer leaving the game and that is Jamie Vardy."He is truly a legend of the club. What he has done for Leicester in the last 13 years is extraordinary.



The way he has conducted himself, he is a true hero. He is an extraordinary character who has brought so much joy to Leicester fans. Joy to me, I have to say.

"He is a player you watch and he makes you smile, makes you laugh, you can empathise with him and he shows all his emotions. Truly, he is player that not only looks like a player but he looks like one of the fans. When he plays, all his emotions come out.

"Vardy is an old-fashioned, working-class hero if you like."He is the kid form Sheffield, came to us and looked rough and ready. He looked like a player that had come from outside the league.

"The first season, I can remember watching him and, although there were bits there that were raw and he did score a few goals, he looked out of place. He didn't look like he was going to make the step up. Apparently he felt that himself at the end of that season.

"But, the first game of the next season, we played Middlesbrough away and he scored the winner in what became a signature goal for him. On the way back, I phoned Alan Birchenall and I said 'we have a new player'. That was the start.

"Listen back to the full show on BBC Sounds.