Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from sports and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person behind the player.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include earning his England debut against the Welsh team in 2020, winning 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 recent years.

James sat down 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: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

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

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, it started with, such as, vanilla lattes and stuff.

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

The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

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

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing drills with you in the yard.

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

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

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as much but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You said you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he represented the player I admired.

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

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and that is likely what most players transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away 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 acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and relatives and had to mature quickly. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, presently he is not here [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

Kelly: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: 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 his team]. It is consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and replay one match in your career, what would you choose?

James: If the outcome is remains the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than victory, what was so special about that night