Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the player.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?

James: No, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three of us growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those sessions? Since I read that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I recall - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and national team attacker his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers 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: And you weren't a backline player at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

James: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as a forward - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have become?

The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, of course. What made did Wigan become the right club for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I perceived differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could go back and experience again a single game in your career, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is going to be the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Besides victory, what was so special about that night