Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation represents a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment join presenter the interviewer for frank and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mental approach and drive, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include making his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

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

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

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

Kelly: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

James: No, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

Reece: So we were three of us growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those sessions? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [the club and national team forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then eventually at right-back, and I hated it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you began as an attacker - who was your idol?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is probably what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you knew in London - why did it work so well?

James: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at the highest level for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I saw differently and try and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is always good to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again one match in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides winning, what was so special about the occasion