The journey to England is a path that is well worn by Irish sportsmen, particularly for our soccer players.
It's an experience ex-Arsenal youth player Stephen Bradley and former Leeds and Ireland midfielder Stephen McPhail know all too well.
But they are not the only ones who have to leave their comfort zone in a bid to advance their careers. Leinster flanker Shane Jennings, who retires at the end of this season also left for Leicester Tigers in 2005 to spent two years in the English Premiership.
On today's Panel on Off The Ball, all three shared their experiences and for Bradley (30) who now scouts for Arsenal, it's already 20 years since he first had to set foot in England to play football.
"It's ridiculous. I was put on a plane and sent to a club in London on my own at 10 years of age to someone I'd never met and trained with them for two weeks - at 10 years of age. Then I was doing that every week until I signed for Arsenal at 15. Thinking back, it was crazy," said Bradley, who also questioned the role of parents nowadays when it comes to pushing their children's cases to make it in England.
McPhail, Bradley and Jennings also made their predictions for the Ireland v Poland match
In contrast, Jennings said he had felt "sheltered" which contributed to his decision to move to Leicester.
"I was saying, 'I've never been away from home, I'm 23, I'm a bit of a Mummy's boy'. I was very sheltered so I decided it was too good of an opportunity not to take. I'm going to a place where I can sink or swim and would be the equivalent of an Arsenal or Manchester United where they were winning trophies and knew how to win trophies," he said.
Listen to the full panel via the podcast.
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