Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

• Published
  47 minutes ago

This Sports Conversation constitutes a new series where prominent figures from athletics and show business participate with presenter Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.

We'll explore mental approach and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 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 his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

The interviewer: First question: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: I am Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your family, correct, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: So we were three of us during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

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

The interviewer: Tell me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I played for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.

Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day it just clicked and I've been a defender since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you began as a forward - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to grow up fast. Participating on a regular schedule assisted significantly.

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

The athlete: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted 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 help you?

James: It was little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was wonderful 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's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and experience again one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

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

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