Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation constitutes an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and show business join host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the person beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed 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 first appearance in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

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

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that area. My beverage is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

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

Reece: No, just because my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, 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 household, correct, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yes, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sibling [the club and national team forward his sister].

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

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

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

James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

The athlete: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back since.

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

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

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

The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents probably what most players making the jump find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained valuable exposure - I relocated from my friends and relatives and was forced to mature quickly. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, presently he is departed [having left Chelsea in that year].

The host: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he occasionally observe situations that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners his team]. It's consistently positive to see him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and experience again one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the same - I'd select the Champions League [final].

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