Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series in which leading personalities from athletics and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and personal reflections. This series reveals the individual beyond the player.

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

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: First question: name, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

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

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.

The presenter: Let's start by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

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

The interviewer: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, correct, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

James: Yes, I remember - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That 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.

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

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

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as much but eventually it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

James: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has influenced your development and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so well?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my companions and family and had to mature fast. Playing on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his club performed admirably in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

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