Here’s something you might now know.
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Jamie Vardy once faced competition for the wing and centre-forward positions in the under-15s side at Sheffield Wednesday from scrum-half Danny Care in 2002.
The pair went their separate ways later that year when Care was told that, at 5ft 8in, he was too small for a career in professional football and instead targeted an England place at rugby union.
Care and Vardy have remained in touch however.
“He was a similar player to what he is now,” recalled Care.
“Very feisty, wanted the ball at his feet, very quick, liked to score goals.
“He’s played unbelievably and he’s deserving everything. We were both similar: wingers or up front. Little fast kids.”
An incredible XI of rugby players who played for football academies
More rugby stars than you think almost had a career in football, including the current England Captain Owen Farrell. Check out who else makes our stunning XI.
GOALKEEPER:
Owen Farrell (Manchester United): The England captain trained with the Manchester United youth team as a goalkeeper. Modestly, he insists he would never have made the grade and that his passion was always rugby league. But Farrell’s trial was cut short when his family moved south – and he left both sports behind for rugby union.
CENTRE-BACKS:
Ben & Tom Curry (Manchester City): It is true that they had a trial at Manchester City, who the twins support, but that was scuppered by Tom scoring an own goal. Probably for the best in the end.
Toby Flood (Newcastle United): After two years at the club he was released by academy director John Carver in the 90s. They were reunited almost 15 years later when Flood was playing at St James park with the Falcons and Carver was manager of the toon army.