Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, discussing defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person behind the player.

The Chelsea defender began practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, simply due to my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: So there was three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, what was it called, and what can you remember?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

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

James: I began as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as an attacker - who served as your role model?

James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, of course. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was distant from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and experience again one match in your career, 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 that night