Leicester striker, Jamie Vardy celebrates a goal. PHOTO/File
LONDON, December 7- The father of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has admitted he didn’t know who his son was until being contacted by the English press last week.
Vardy’s father, Richard Gill, lost touch with his son after walking out on the family over 20 years ago.
Gill got another woman pregnant and started a new life, meaning he had no idea who his son was prior to be being interviewed by the Mail on Sunday.
“I am completely overwhelmed and staggered to find out how famous my son is,” Gill said.
“Until last week, I had never even heard of Jamie Vardy, let alone realised that he was my son.
“I am not really interested in football. But now I will be watching the results more closely and following his career.”
Vardy’s meteoric rise to the summit of English football has been nothing short of miraculous and he is currently the league’s top marksman, after recently scoring in 12 consecutive games to break the previous record set by former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
While he isn’t a fan of football, Gill admits it has ‘been fantastic’ watching his son’s recent performances.
He added: “It is a real shame that things did not turn out differently. But his mother and I were really young and I completely lost touch with them after we broke up.
“I would love to turn back the clock, but it is not possible.
“If he would like to meet me, that would be great but I understand that he might not want to have anything to do with me.
“Either way, it’s been fantastic watching him play. I will remember that for the rest of my life.”
