Jackson Patillo Competing in English FA Cup

Jackson Patillo, a Willard High School and Springfield SC alum, is attending college at the Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy in Leeds, England. The opportunity to move to the UK and play year round came as a result of a Missouri ODP soccer tour to England. Patillo, along with Joe Curti (Carthage) played in front of RIASA Director of Coaching Mark Ellis against two English Professional Academy Teams when the 93 Missouri ODP squad traveled to the UK in the Summer of 2010. You can read more about Patillo and RIASA in my recruiting story here.

In addition to pursuing his college degree at RIASA, he is playing for the school program AND he is playing Eccleshill United FC. The following article from the RIASA site describes the action!

Ian Whiting, a local sports reporter wrote in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus several weeks ago that RIASA/Eccleshill United FC were waiting for the arrival of the Americans to rescue them. Whiting’s prophecy is proving to be correct. RIASA directs all the football operations at the Northern Counties East League club providing development opportunities for the RIASA students.

This past week RIASA/Eccleshill moved up their league and today progressed in the English FA cup, which is the world’s most prestigious competition that allows all clubs in England to compete. The present holders of this world-renowned trophy are Manchester City FC.

Mark Ellis the RIASA football director was delighted with the team’s performance. Ellis added, “Jackson Patillo, Jae Lee Yun, Brandon Roane, Adam McCabe and Victor Balis were all part of the RIASA/Eccleshill squad that produced a great result and now have another opportunity to show what they can do against a team that plays a few leagues higher. It will be a great challenge but a wonderful opportunity in their overall development”.

You can read more on the RIASA site. Congratulations to Jackson.

I’ll have a follow up interview with John Roeslein, Director of Missouri ODP as well as the RIASA North American Director of Recruiting, about Missouri ODP plans for 2012-2013 soon. Look for that and more on soccer development in Missouri in the coming weeks. If you have questions you’d like answered, leave a comment or contact me with your thoughts.

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