Fashion Passion, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with presenter Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the athlete.

The Chelsea defender began training with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

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

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

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that location. My beverage is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

James: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

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

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in education. 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 was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

Reece: No, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

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

Reece: Well we were three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, 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 a year. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a backline player at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the ball as much but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you began as a forward - who was your idol?

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

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was miles away 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 proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and family and was forced to grow up fast. Playing on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

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

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the tournament [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

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

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Besides winning, what made it exceptional about that night