Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began training with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling play. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: So there was three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the four years old, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, what was it called, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a backline player at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and its development...

James: I started off as a forward, and then eventually moved to the wing, left wing, right wing, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as a forward - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was distant from everything you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and family and was forced to grow up quickly. Playing on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost old enough to be my dad and has played at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

James: These were small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and experience again a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than winning, what was so special about the occasion