Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from sports and entertainment join presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mindset and drive, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the individual behind the player.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the academy and into the senior squad - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against Wales in 2020, claiming the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over recent years.

The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will recognize that area. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?

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

The presenter: We'll begin by talking football. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: Essentially, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well 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 a lot with him.

Kelly: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and England attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, correct? 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 the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

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

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

The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you knew in London - what made it successful so effectively?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to mature fast. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he arrived and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: In what way would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your professional history, which would you pick?

Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about that night