Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and show business join host the interviewer for candid and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started training with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored the sport.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your childhood and development?

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

The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those sessions? Because I read that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a child, its name, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to the wing, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I became a defender since.

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

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

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

Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what most players making the jump find challenging.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from all you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a consistent basis helped a lot.

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

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he joined and continues to, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice 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]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could return and replay one match in your career, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is remains the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

The host: Other than winning, what was so special about that night