Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and detailed discussions about football.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the Champions League with his club in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with Kelly Somers 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 what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

James: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

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

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved the sport.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, going to watch my sibling compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: Well we were three children growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: 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 conducted drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, to be honest. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

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

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who served as your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Identify a turning point in your career - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is most challenging and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis assisted a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost old enough to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and try and paint a different picture.

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

Reece: It was great to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides victory, what was so special about that night