It was an eye opener - Latics' Academy Manager
Tony Philliskirk found his four-day trip to Greece as part of a Football Association study group enlightening.Latics' Academy Manager (pictured) was one of 12 in the FA party which watched under-20's training at Atromitos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens as well as the under-19's at Olympiakos.
"It was an eye opener. The structure at clubs in Greece is way behind here, but it works as they still produce top players," Philliskirk explained.
Though many of the training sessions were similar to here, Philliskirk added he picked up a number of things and found the visit educational.
Philliskirk was joined amongst others by Dan Ashworth, the FA's director of elite development; Ged Roddy, who wrote the EPPP coaching blueprint, and England under-17 coach John Peacock.
There were also study visits by delegations from Eire and Italy at the same time as the one by the FA.