Blair Turgott becomes latest success story from Jamie Vardy's V9 academy as winger joins Stevenage from non-league Bromley

• e-mail

Jamie Vardy's new V9 football academy, designed to help non-league footballers find a career in the professional game, is about to score another success.

Blair Turgott, who spent last season at Bromley, will join Stevenage subject to a medical after impressing in the trials last week, with two goals in a game against Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints.

Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Kilmarnock and Molde in Norway all expressed an interest in signing winger Turgott, a former West Ham trainee and ex-England youth international.

Jamie Vardy's V9 academy has scored another success as Blair Turgott is signed by Stevenage

Turgott has managed to land a move to League Two Stevenage after impressing in academy

The 23-year-old from Bromley shows a burst of pace as he runs past an opponent

Striker Danny Newton, who scored 34 goals for Tamworth last season, also impressed the Stevenage scouts and completed his move to the League Two outfit last week.

Turgott, 23, slipped out of professional football when he was released by Leyton Orient last year and lost his way.

He appeared in court in April of this year charged with money laundering and fraud but is determined to get his career back on track and prove he has matured.

Simon Ireland, QPR head of coaching and lead coach at the V9 Academy, said: 'Blair displayed a great attitude all week. He showcased his ability when in possession, always being positive and affecting the play.

'He has had a couple of knock backs in his career but has shown good resilience to bounce back and take this opportunity.'

Leicester and England striker Vardy fought his way to the top via non-league football after being released by Sheffield Wednesday.

He established V9 because he is convinced there are more players in the amateur ranks who are capable of thriving at a higher level if given the opportunities and support.

Turgott (left) pictured playing for Bromley in their 2016 pre-season friendly with Crystal Palace

Turgott takes on Lincoln City player Josh Ginnelly during last season's league encounter

The England striker created the academy to help non-league players find opportunities 

Those players invited to the final stage of the process last week, spent five days on a residential training course at Manchester City's Etihad campus.

They received a coaching masterclass from former Fulham boss and Manchester United assistant manager Rene Mulensteen and listened to talks from sports psychologist Jim McKenna and Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber.

Split into three teams of 14, they were managed by Sunderland coach Robbie Stockdale, Sheffield United's U23 coach Travis Binnion and QPR pair Ireland and Chris Ramsey.

More than 60 scouts flooded in to see them play in games against each other on Tuesday and, on Friday, against TNS, Bangor and a PFA side.

Lee Tucker, head of recruitment and project leader at V9, said: 'Blair is a great example of what V9 was set up for.

'He, like many others who attended, has the talent and desire to make it as a professional footballer. We are proud to have played a small part in getting Blair back to where he belongs.'

Turgott joined West Ham at the age of eight but made only one first-team appearance.

There were loan spells at Bradford, Colchester, Rotherham and Dagenham and Redbridge. At Bradford, he played a part in their incredible run to the League Cup final in 2013 and was an unused substitute at Wembley.

When released by West Ham in February 2015, he joined Coventry on a short-term deal before a year at Orient. Last season, at Bromley in the National League, he scored 15 goals in 47 appearances.