CORNISH students got a fascinating insight into the life of Premier League referee Simon Hooper when he visited a St Austell secondary school this week.

Speaking in the main hall at Penrice Academy, Simon shared his remarkable journey from grassroots football to officiating at the very highest level of the game.

Throughout the talk, Simon offered fascinating insights into his career, including experiences of refereeing at some of football’s most iconic stadiums, as well as speaking about working with renowned Premier League managers such as Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.

Students also got the chance to ask their own questions during an engaging Q&A session. One of the highlights of the session came when Year 10 student, Emelia, won a genuine Premier League match coin that Simon had previously used during a top-flight fixture.

Later in the day, Simon took charge of the Year 9 Boys' National Cup first round match against Stoke Damerel School. It proved to be a closely contested encounter, with Penrice securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory to progress to the next round. Watched by members of the wider Penrice community, the game was fiercely competitive and could easily have gone either way.

A spokesperson from Penrice Academy said: “Simon was incredibly generous with his time throughout the visit and was outstanding with our learners. His stories, advice and experiences provided a unique insight into the dedication, resilience and commitment required to reach the top of the profession.

“The visit was made possible through the generosity and support of the family of Olivia, Year 8, who kindly gifted this opportunity to the school. We are extremely grateful for his thoughtful gesture, which created a truly memorable experience and inspired many of our students.”