Inside the Premier League: Iconz Experience welcomes referee John Brooks.

At Iconz Experience, we believe the best soccer tours are about far more than simply playing games and visiting stadiums. They are about creating experiences, opening doors and giving young players an insight into the professional game that they simply cannot get at home.

That is exactly what we delivered on one of our recent tours when Premier League referee John Brooks joined our group to share his experiences from inside the world of professional football.

For our players, it was a unique opportunity to hear directly from someone who operates at the very highest level of the English game.

From grassroots football to the Premier League

John Brooks has risen through the English refereeing system to become an established Premier League referee. He made his Premier League refereeing debut in December 2021 and has also represented England internationally as a FIFA-listed referee since 2023.

His journey provided our players with a fascinating insight into the dedication, preparation and decision-making required to reach the professional level.

Rather than simply talking about refereeing in general, John was able to give our players a genuine behind-the-scenes perspective on what it is like to walk onto a Premier League pitch, manage some of the biggest players and personalities in world football, and make decisions under immense pressure.

VAR, decision-making and the modern game

One of the biggest talking points was, naturally, VAR and the role technology now plays in professional football.

John was able to explain the process behind VAR decisions and give the players a much better understanding of what happens behind the scenes when a major decision is reviewed.

For young players who regularly watch Premier League football, it was fascinating to discover just how much goes into a decision that might appear to take only a few seconds on television.

The session also covered the wider responsibilities of a modern professional referee, including preparation, positioning, communication, managing players and maintaining concentration throughout a match.

A different perspective on the professional game

Perhaps the most valuable part of the experience was giving our players the opportunity to see professional football from a completely different perspective.

Players naturally focus on their own performance, their teammates and the opposition. Hearing from a Premier League referee helped them understand the game from the official's point of view, and why communication, respect, discipline and understanding the laws of the game are such important parts of becoming a better footballer.

It was an engaging, open and hugely informative session, with plenty of questions from the players and some fantastic discussion around the realities of professional football.

What makes an Iconz Experience tour different?

This is exactly what we mean when we talk about more than just a soccer tour.

At Iconz Experience, we work hard to create opportunities for our travelling teams to experience the game from every angle, from training with professional and academy coaches, playing against quality opposition and visiting iconic stadiums, to hearing directly from people who work at the highest levels of the sport.

Meeting someone such as John Brooks gives our players something that lasts long after the tour has finished: knowledge, inspiration and a better understanding of what life inside professional football is really like.

We would like to thank John for taking the time to visit our group and for giving our players such an outstanding insight into Premier League refereeing.

It was a fantastic addition to an already memorable Iconz Experience tour and another example of how we continue to create experiences that go beyond the game.